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',.H L i .* / fz-^JL. 




A JAPANESE REVENGE 


m 


BY 

LOUIS TRACY 

AUTHOR OF "the JEWEL OF DEATH'^ 


Published by 

THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK COMPANYe; 
Cleveland, Ohio, U. S. Ap 


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INDEX 


CsAmii Pack 

I *‘T1i€ Stosvmarket Mystery" 5 , 

il David Hume's Story ' 6 

III The Dream ti 

IV Through the Library Window ^ 

V. From Behind the Hedge 

VI An Old Acquaintance 45 

VII Husband and Wife *53 

VIII Revelations 61 

IX The Ko-katana 69 

X The Black Museum 77 

XI Mr. “Okasaki" 86, 

XII What the Station Master Saw 03 

XIII Two Women IJt 

XIV Margaret Speaks Out ........ 107 

XV An Unexpected Visitor 114 

XVI The Cousins 1.19 

XVII ^Uherchez La Femme’^ 124 

XVIII The Third Man Appears 128 

XIX Concerning . Motives 13B 

XX The Second Attack 137 

XXI Margaret' s Secret ' 143 

XXII The Meeting .148 

XXIII Mr. Ooma 153 

XXIV Holden's Story .....160 

XXV Mr. and Mrs, Jiro ....165 

XXVI Margaret's Secret 160 

XXVII Husband and Wife ...174 

•XXVIII To Beechcroft 179 

XXIX The Fight 385 

XXX Ooma's Story 106 

•XXXI The Last Note in Brett’s Diary 1 §7 





A JAPANESE REVENGE 


.CHAPTER L 

STOW MARKET MYSTERY./^ 

nfe. David ^ ^ ^ . 

r Reginald Brett, barrister-detective, twisted round Itf 
Jiis easy-chair to permit the light to fall clearly on thg 
card handed to him by his man-servant. j'; 

$ ^^What does Mr. David Hume look like. Smith li^ 
Risked. 

> gentleman, sir.” ^ 

3^^ell-trained servants never make a mistake when 
they give such a description of a visitor. Brett wa^ 
latisfied, 

. Produce him*” 

■ Then he examined the card. 

1 is odd,” he thought, ^‘Mr, David Hume give^ 
no address, and writes his own cards. I like his sig*^ 
Siature, too. Now, I wonder — ” i 

i The door was thrown open. A tall, well-propor^ 
tioned young man entered. He was soberly attired ii^ 
blue serge. His face and hands bore the impress ol 
travel and exposure. His expression was pleasing andl 
attractive. In repose his features were regular, anS 
marked with lines of thought. A short, weU-trimme(i 
beard, of the type affected by some naval men, gava 
iiim a somewhat unusual appearance. 

He advanced into the room and bowed easily* 

errand will occupy some time, perhaps half iin 


« 


A JAPANESE HEVENGE 


liourj to permit of full explanation/* said Mr. Hiune. 
'^Maj I ask—’' 

am completely at your service. Take that chair* 
You will find it comfortable. Do, you smoke? Yes? 
Well, try those cigarettes. They are better than they 



look/' 


Mr. Hume seemed to be gratified by this cordial 
reception. He seated himself as requested, and picked 
up the box of cigarettes. 

“ Turkish," he announced, ^Grown on a slope near 
Salonica." 

“Indeed? You interest me." 

“Oh, I know them well. I was there two months 
ago. I suppose you got these as a present from Yildiz 
ffiosk?" 

“Mr. Hume, you asked for half an hour. Make it 
an hour. You have touched upon a subject dear to 
my heart." 

“They are the best cigarettes in the world. No 
one can buy them. They are made for the exclusive 
use of the Sultan’s household. To attempt to export 
them means the bastinado and banishment at the least, 
I do not credit you with employing agents on sucK 
terms, so I assume an Imperial gift." 

^ The barrister had been looking intently at the other 
man during this short colloquy. Suddenly his eyes 
Ipafkled. He struck a match and held it to his visitor, 
with the w’^ords — 


“You are quite right, Mr. David Hume-Frazer." 
The person thus addressed neither started, nor| 
sprang to his feet, nor gasped in amazement. He took ; 
the match, lit a cigarette, and said — ' 

“It is strange you should know me. I have never 
previously met you to xny knowledge. Am I still a 
icelebrity ?" 

“To me — ^yes." 

: ^ A sort of distinguished criminal, eh ?'* 

“ No man could be such a judge of tobacQO :attd re- 
a)mmonplace4" ^ 


A JAfAKKSE KEVEKOE 7 ^ 

^Pott my lionor, Mr. Brett, I think 3'ou deserve' 
your reputation. For the first time during eighteen " 
months I feel hopeful. Do you know, I passed dozens 

I of, acquaintances in the streets yesterday and none of 
them knew me. Yet you pick me out at the first 
glance, so to speak. 

^They might do the same if you spoKe to them, 
^‘Hume, If: you please.” 

^Xertainly. Why have you dropped part of your 
surname?” 

‘^It is a long story. My lawyers, Flint and Sharp, 
of Gray’s Inn j beard of your achievements in the cases 
of Lady Lyle and the Imperial Diamonds. They per- 
suaded me to come to you.” 

^^Thopghj personally, you have little faith in mer’’ 
^Heaven knows, Mr. Brett, T have had good causa 
to lose faith. My case defies analysis. It savors or 
(the supernatural.’^ 

The barrister shoved his chair sideways until he \va*i 
able to reach a bookcase, from which he took a bulky 
interleaved volume. 

^‘Supernatural,” he repeated^ ‘^Th?,t is ne\v to me. 
!As I remember the affair, it was highly sensational, 
perplexing — a blend of romance and. Japanese knives 
— ^but I do not remember any abnormal element save 
yone, utter absence of motive.” 

‘‘Do you mean to say that you possess a record of 
I the facts?-’ inquired Hume, exhibiting some token ol 
■i incitement in face and voice as he watched Brett turn- 
■ing over the leaves of the scrap-book, in which news- 
paper cuttings were neatly pasted, some being freely 
annotated. 

“Yes. The daily press supplies my demands in th^ 
way ol fiction — a word, by the way, often misapplied 
Where do you find stranger tales than in every-day 
life?, Ah, here we are!” 

He searched through a large number of printed ex- 
tracts. They were comments, long reports, and r.ol a 


8 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


few notes, all under the heading — ^^The Stowmarket 
Mystery/^ 

Hume was now deeply agitated; he evidently re- 
strained his feelings by sheer force of will. 

^^Mr. Brett/’ he said, and his voice trembled a little, 
surely you could not have expected my presence here, 
this morning?” i 

no more expected you than the man in the! 
moon,” was the reply, ^^but I recognized you at once. 

1 watched your face for many hours whilst you stood 
in the dock. Professional business took me to the As^ ' 
sizes during your second trial. At one time I thought 
of offering my services to the police. Winter, the? 
Scotland Yard man who had charge of the business 
is a friend of mine.” i 

^^What restrained you?” 

^^Pity, and perhaps doubt. I could see no reasou 
why you should kill your cousin.” ■ 

But you believed me guilty ?” ^ 

The barrister looked his questioner straight in tEq 
eyes. He saw there the glistening terror of a tortured 
soul. Somehow he expected to find a different expres;-* 
sion. He was puzzled. r* 

^^Why have you come 'here, Mr. Hume?” Ee 
abruptly demanded. 

^^To implore your assistance. They tell me you are 
the one man in the world able to clear my name from 
the stain of crime. Will you do it?” 

Again their eyes met. Hume was fighting noWf 
fighting for all that a man holds dear. He did notij 
plead. He only demanded his rights. Born a few It 
centuries earlier, he would have enforced tliem witlH 
cold steel. [ 

^^Come, Mr. Brett,” he almost sEouted. ^Hf you are 
as good a judge of men as you say I am of tobacco 
you will not think that the cowardly murderer who 
struck down my cousin would come to you, of all 
others, and reopen the story of a crime closed unwill- 
ingly by the law.” 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


• . - 

Brett could, on occasion, exhibit an obstinate deter- i 
mination not to be drawn into giving an opinion. His 
visitor’s masterful manner annoyed him. Hume, met-- 
apliorically speaking, took him by the throat and com- 
pelled his services. He rebelled against this specie^ 

, of compulsion, but mere politeness required some dis- 
play of courteous tolerance. 

^Ht seems to me,” he said, ^^that we are beginning 
at the end. I may not be able to help you. What aril 
the facts?” 

The stranger was so agitated that he could not re-., 
ply. Self-restrained men are not ready with lan^ 
guage. Their thoughts may be fiery as bottled vitrioh 
but they -keep the cork in. The barrister allowed foil 
this drawback. His sympathies were aroused, and 
they overcame his slight resentment. 

‘^Try another cigarette,” he said. have herd 
a summary of the evidence. I will read it to you. 
Do not interrupt. Follow the details closely, and cor- 
rect what is wrong when I have ended.” 

Hume was still volcanic, but he took the proffered 
box. 

^^Ah,” cried Brett, ^^though you are^ angry, yoiui 
judgment is sound. Now listen!” 

Then he read the following statement, prepared bj^ 
himself in an idle moment: — 

‘‘The Stowmarket Mystery is a strange mixture ot 
the real and the unreal. Sir Alan Hume-Frazer, 
fourth baronet, met his death on the hunting-field. Hij^ 
horse blundered at a brook and the rider was impaled 
on a hidden stake, placed in the stream by his owin 
orders to prevent poachers from ne^tting trout. His 
wife, nee Somers, a member of a Bristol family, had 
pre-deceased him. 

“There were two cnildren, a daughter, Margaret^ 
aged twenty-five, and a son, Alan,iaged twenty-three. 
By his will Sir Alan left all his real and personal 
estate to his son, with a life charge of £1,000 pex^ 
annum for tb« daughter. As he was a very wealthy! 


A JAPAN E5E REVENGE 


10 

w ?■ 

mm, almost a millionaire^ the provision for his dangh* . 
ter was niggardly, which might be accounted for by 
the fact that the girl, several years before her father's 
death, quarreled with him and left home, residing in 
London and in Florence. Both children, by the way,|- 
were born in Italy, where Sir Alan met and marriedl'^ 
Miss Somers. fe 

‘^The old gentleman, it appeared, allowed 
Hume-Frazer £5,000 per annum during his life. His: 
son voluntarily continued this allowance, but the 
brother and sister continued to live apart; he was der 
voted to travel and sport, she to music and art, with a 
leaning tov/ards the occult — woman divorced frorn 
conventionality and filled with a hatred of restraint, 
‘"Beechcroft, the family residence, is situated four 
miles from Stowmarket, close to the small village of 
Sleagill. After his father's death, the young Sir Alan 
Went for a protracted tour round the world. Mean- 
while, his first cousin, Mr. David Hunie-Frazer lived 
at Beechcroft during the shooting season, -and inci- 
dentally fell in love with Miss Helen Layton, daughter 
of the rector of Sleagill, the Rev. Wilberforce Lay- 
ton.'' 

Hume stirred uneasily in his chair and the barrister 
paused, expecting him to say something. But the other 
only, gasped brokenly : on ; go on !" f 

‘‘Love lasts longer than death or crime/' mused ' 
ferett. 

He continued — 

“In eighteen months Sir Alan the fifth — all heirs 
had same name- — returned to Beechcroft, about Christ- 
mas. His cousin had been called aw'ay on family 
business, but returned for a New Year's Eve ball, 
given by Mrs. Eastham, a lady of some local impor- 
tance. Sir Alan and Helen Layton had followed the 
hounds together three times during Christmas week. 
They were, of course, old friends. 

^ “David sent from Scotland — his father’s; estate was" 
situated close to Inverness — some presents to his fu- * 


A JAPANESE REVENG* U 

ture wife, hts cousin, and others. The gift to Sip 
Alia was noteworthy and fatalistic— a handsc^ndy 
aolaid Japanese swofd, with a small dagger inserted in 
a sheath' near the top of the scabbard. David reached 
^eechcroft on the day of the bafl. Relations between 
j^e cousins 'seemed to the servants to be cool, though 
‘ the coolness lay rather with the baronet, and David, a 
^year older, it may be here stated, was evidently taken 
I by surprise at Sir Alan’s attitude. 

^"The three young people went to the ball, and 
shortly after midnight there was something in the na- 
ture of a scene. Sir Alan bad been dancing with Miss 
Layton. They were in the conservatory when the 
young lady burst into tears, hurried to find David, and 
asked him to take her at once to her carriage. Mrs, 
Eastham was acting as chaperone to the girl, and some 
heated words passed between her and the tv/o young 
men, yi 

‘‘Evidence showed that Sir Alan had bitterly up- 
braided Miss Layton on account of her engagement 
and hinted that David had taken an unfair advantage 
his (Alan’s) absence to win her affections. This 
was absolutely untrue. It was denied by the two mosf 
concerned, and by Mrs. Ea^stham, who, as a privilegeo 
friend, knew all the facts. The young men w^erc in s 
state of white heat but David sensibly withdrew, an4 
^walked to the Hall. v 

^‘Mrs. Eastham’s house was close to the lodg^ 

. gates, and from the lodge a straight yew-shaded driv<? 
[fed to the library windows, the main entrance being al 
the side of the house. 

the library a footman, on duty in the room,' 
maintained a. good fire, and the French windows were 
left unfastened, as the young gentlemen would prob^ 
ably enter the house that way. David did, in factj 
do so. The footman quitted the room, and a few min- 
utes later the butler appeared. He was an old favorite 
of David’s. He asked if he should send some whisky 
and soda. 


12 


A jAFANESE REVENGE 


?• The young man agreed, adding — 

'Sir Alan and I have commenced the year badly, 
I'ei'grison, ‘We quarreled over a silly mistake. I have 
^ made up my mind not to sleep on it, so I will await his 
arrival. Let me know if he comes in the other way/ j 
‘•^The butler hoped that the matter was not a serious J 
one. 

i 'Under other circumstances it might be/ Avas the^ 
answer, 'but as things are, it is simply a wretched mis- 
take, which a little reasonable discussion will put* 
right/ 

, ^'The footman brought the w^hisky and soda. ^ i 
I Twenty minutes later he re-entered the room to 
attend to the fire. Mr. David Hume-Frazer was 
curled up in an armchair asleep, or rather dozing, for 
lie stirred a little when the man put some coal in the 
grate. This was at 1 a. m. exactly, 

^'At 1 :10 a. m. the butler thought he heard his mas- 
ter’s voice coming from the front of the house, and 
angrily protesting something. Unfortunately he could 
not catch a single word. He imagined that the 'quar- 
rer spoken of by David had been renewed. 

waited two minutes, not more, but hearing no 
further sounds, he walked round to the library win- 
dows, thinking that perhaps he would see Sir Alan in 
the room, 

*'To his dismay he found his young master stretched 
on the turf at the side of the drive, thirty feet froniffr^ 
the house. He rushed into the library, where Davidjl 
was still asleep and moving uneasily — muttering, theff* 
anan thought — ^ 

‘‘'Come quickly, sir/ he cried; 'I fear something 1 
has happened to Sir Alan. He is lying on the ground | 
outside the house, and I cannot arouse him/ 

I /^Then David Hume-Frazer sprang to his feet and 
, shouted — ' 

'My God ! It was not a dream. He is murdered 
^ ^Unquestionably — ’’ 

But die barrister’s cold-blooded synopsis of a thrill 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


li 

ing crime pro\’ed to be too mucii for his hearer’* 
nerves. Hume stood up. The man was a born fighter, 
JTe could take his punishment, but only on his feet. 

I Again he cried in anguish—- 

“No! It was no dream, but a foul murder. And 
they bl^« 


|4' A japanf.se revenge 


CMAFTER II. f 

DAVID HUMe's STO^r. 

Brett closed the book with a snap. 

*^What good purpose can it serve at this time to re-- 
open the miserable story he asked. 

Curiously enough, Hume paid no heed to the quts* 
tion. His lips quivered, his nostrils twitched, and hi^ 
eyes shot strange gleams. He caught the back of his 
chair with both hands in a grasp that tried to squee?* 
the tough oak. 

^^What else have you written there he said, and 
Brett could not help but admire his forced composure. 

^‘Nothing of any material importance. You were 
arrested, after an interval of some days, as the result 
of a coroner's w^arrant You explained that you had 
a vivid dream, in which you saw your cousin stabbed 
by a stranger whom you did not know, whose face 
even you never saw. Sir Alan was undoubtedly mur- 
dered. The dagger-like attachment to your Japanese 
swwd had been driven into his breast up to the hilt,^ 
actually slitting his heart. To deliver such a Wow,/.*'* 
with such a weapon, required uncommon strength andl 
skill. I think I describe it here as "un-English'.’’ \ 

Brett referred to his scrap-book. In spite of him- ; 
self, he felt all his old interest reawakening in this re- 
I'narkable crime. 

^^You were tried at the ensuing Assizes, and the 
jury disagreed. Your second trial resulted in an ac- 
quittal, though the public attitude towards yon was 
dubious. The judge, in summing up, said that the evi- 
dence against you "might be deemed insufficient/ In 
these Vv’ords he conveyed the popular opinion. I see I 
have noted here that Miss Margaret Hume-Frazer was 


A JA?AX£SK RKVKXGK 4S 

ai «. CdViitit CJardcn Fancy Drc$s Ball on the mgfit of 
the mu?der* But the tragic deaths of her father and 
brother had a marked influence on the young lady. 
..She, of course^ succeeded to the estates, and decided 
y at once to live at Beechcroft. Does she stiH live 

] there P’ 

*^Yej§, I am told she Is distinguished ?or her ehar- 
ity and good works. She is married to an Italian, 
naiiied Giovanni Capclla/^ 

“His stage name?” 

^ ^ No ; he is realty an Italian,’^ 

< BretFs pleasantry was successful in its object 
David Hume regained his equanimity and sat down 
again. After a pause he went on — 

‘‘May I ^k, Mr. Brett, before I tell you my part of 
the story, i£ you have formed any theories as to the 
occurrence at the time?” 

The barrister consulted his memoranda, Something 
that met his eyes caused him to smile, 

^‘1 see,” he said, ^^that Mr. Winter, of Scotland 
Yard, was convinced of your guilt. That is greatly in 
your favor, because Mr, Winter is a most excellent 
officer, whose intellect is shackled by handcuffs. ‘De 
Taitdace i’ says the Frenchman, as a specific for human 
conduct ‘Lock ’em up,’ says Mr. Winter, when he is 
i inquiring into a crime. Of course, he is right nine 

i times out of ten; but, if, in the tenth case intellect con- 
flicts with handcuffs, the handcuffs win, being 
stronger in this instance.” w 

Hume was in no mood to appreciate the Humors 
of Scotland Yard, so the other continued — > 

/vThe most telling point against you was the fad 
that not only the butler, footman, and Imo housemaids, 
but you yourself, at the coroner’s inquest, swore that 
the small Japanese knife was in its sheath during the 
afternoon; indeed, the footman said it was there, to 
• the best of his belief, at midnight. Then, again a 
drawer in Sir Alan’s writing-table had been 
Yrrenched open whilst you were alone in the rooim 


16 


A Jx\PANESE REVENGE 


Oil this point the footman was positive. Near the 
‘drawer rested the sword from which its viperish com- 
panion had been abstracted. Had not the butler found 
Sir Alan’s body, still palpitating, and testified beyond 
any manner of doubt that you were apparently sleep- f 
ing in the library, you would have been hanged, Mr* iv 
Bume/’ 

Probably. 

I ^^The air of probability attending your execution, 
.would have been most convincing.’’ ^ 

my case, then, so desperate?” 

‘"You cannot be tried again, you know.” 

do not mean that. I want to establish my inno- 
cence ; to compel society to reinstate me as a man pro- 
foundly wronged; above all, to marry the woman I 
love.” 

Brett amused himself by rapidly projecting several 
rings of smoke through a large one. 

^^So you really are innocent?” he said, after a pause. 

David Hume rose from his chair, and reached for 
liis hat, gloves and stick. 

You have crushed my remaining hope of emancipa- 
ition,” he exclaimed bitterly. ^^You have the repute of 
.being able to pluck the heart out of a mystery, Mr. 
OBrett, so when you assume that I am guilty — ” 

have assumed nothing of the kind. You seem 
to possess the faculty of self-control. Kindly exer- 
jcise it and answer my questions. Did you kill your 
cousin ?” 

1 ‘*Why did you give your cousin this sword?” i 

"‘Ijecause he told me he was making a collection of 
ffapanese arms, and I remarked that my grandfather 
on my mother’s side, Admiral Cunningham, liad ^ 
brought this weapon, with others, from the Far East. 

[Lt lay for fifty years in our gun-room.” 

^^So you met Sir Alan soon after his return home?’^ 
Yes, in London, the day he arrived. Came to town 


A<^ APANESE REVENGE IZ 

m purpose in fact. Afterwards I traveled north’, and 
be went to Beechcroft.’^ 

‘‘How long afterwards? Be particular as to dates.” 

^ ‘It is quite a simple matter, owing to the season. 
Alan reached Charing Cross from Brindisi on Decem- 
ber 20. We remained together — that is, lived at the 
same hotel, paid calls in company, visited the same 
• restaurants, went to the same theatres — until the 
4 4iight of the 23rd, when we parted. It is a tradition of 
^.my family that its members should spend Christmas 
together/^ 

1 “A somewhat unusual tradition in Scotland, is it 
not ?” 

‘‘Yes, but it was my mother’s wish, so my fa then 
and I keep the custom up.” 

“Your father is still living?” 

' Yes, thank goodness !” 

, “He is now the sixth baronet?” 

“He is not. Neither he nor I will assume the titia 
while the succession bears the taint of crime.” • . 

“Did you quarrel with your cousin in London^” ' 

“Not by word or thought. He seemed to be sun 
prised when I told him of my engagement to Helen, 
but he warmly congratulated me. One afternoon h^ 
was a trifle short-tempered, but not with me.” 

“Tell nie about this.” 

“His sister is, or was then, a rather rapid young 
lady. She discovered that certain money-lenders 
would honor her drafts on her brother, and she had 
been going the pace somewhat heavily. Alan went to; 
see her, told her to stop this practice, and sent formal 
, notice to the same effect through his solicitors to the 
bill discountei's. It annoyed him, not on account of the 
money, but that his sister should act in such a way.” 

“Ah, this is important! It was not mentioned at 
the trial.” 

“Why should it be?” 

''Who can say? I wish to goodness I had helped 
)'aiir butler to raise Sir Alan’s lifeless body. 


. imi A ,JA1*AK£SE KEVBK'aS 

V 

this family dispute. W»s there a scene— tears, 
f cerkninations 1” 

“Not a bit. You don’t know Rita. We used to call 
hacr Rka, because, as boys, we teased her by saying ben 
tjame was Margharita, and not Margaret.” ^ 

..'“Why?” “ ■ f 

I has such a foreign manner and stjdg.’^ 

I How did she acquire them?” 

K "‘ She was a big girl, six years old, and tall lor Kef j 
when her parents settled down in England. She 
irst spoke Italian, and picked up Italian ways from 
her" nurse, an old party who was devotedly attached to 
her. Even Alan was a good Italian linguist and given 
lo foreign manners when a little chap. But Harrow 
soon knocked them out of him. Rita retained them.” 

“I see. A curious household. I should have ex- 
pected this young lady to upbraid her brother after the 
style of the prima donna in grand opera.” 

He told me she laughed at him, and invited 
turn to witness the trying on of a fancy dress costume, 
the 'Queen of Night/ which she wore at a i?al masqm. 
ibe night lie was murdered.” 

. ^" When did she get married?” 

• "^‘ Last January, at Naples, very suddenly, 

mt the knowledge of any of her relatives.” 

"'She had been living at Beechcroft nearly year, 
.|hen?” 

‘‘ Yes, she went south in the winter. The reason she ,, 
gave was that the Hall would be depressing on the/’ 
aimiversary of her brother’s death. She had become! 
most popular in the district. Helen is very fond of 
and was quite shocked to hear of her marriage* 
Wht local people do not like Signor. Capella.” 
n\^y?” 

' is difficult to give a reason. Mis§ Layton doe^ 
uot indulge in details, but that is the impresaica I 
lather from her letters.” i 

Hume paused, and Brett shot a quick glance at htna^ 

** Finish what you were going to say,” he said* , . 


A JA^AKESE ESVE^OE W 

’^On\y this — ^Helcn and I have mutually released 
«ach oUier from our engagement, and in the 
hreath have refused to be released. That is, if yot 
understand — ” 
i The barrister nodded. 

I ^^The result is that we are both thoroughly miser 
able. Our respective fathers do not like the i(ka of om 
^marriage under the circumstances. We are simply 
drifting in the feeble hope that some day a kindly 
"iProvidense will dissipate the cloud that hangs over 
me. Ah, Mr. Brett, I am a rich man. Command the 
limits of my fortune, but clear me. Prove to Helen 
that her faith in my innocence is justified.’’ 

^^For goodness’ sake light another cigarette," 
snapped the barrister. ^^You have interfered with my 
line of thought It is all wriggly.” 

Quite a minute elapsed before he began again. 

‘‘ What caused the trouble at Mrs. Eastham’s 

think I can explain that It seems that Alan’s 
father told him to get married — ’’ 

‘T don’t know, I only gathered as much from my 
cousin’s remarks. Well, it was not until his final 
homecoming that he realized what a beautiful woiran 
the jolly little girl he knew as a boy had developed 
into. She was just the kind of wife he wanted, and f 
^ fancy he imagined I had stolen a march on him. 'Em 
|he was a thoroughly straightforward, manly fellow, 
land something very much out of the common musl- 
fhave upset him before he vented his anger on me and 

^ Helen.” 

^ “Have you any notion — ” 

sW least. Pardon me. I suppose you were 

■going to ask if I guessed the cause?” 
k ''Yes ” 

p "^It is quite unfathomable. We parted the best of 
: friends in London, although he knew all about the en- 
' gagement. We met again at 6 p. m. on New YcarV 
Eve, and he was very short with me. I can onh: 


20 A JAPANESE REVENGE 


vaguely assume that some feeling of resentment had 
meanwhile been working up in him, and it found ex^ 
pression during his chat with Helen in the conserva- 
tory.” ; 

‘‘Did you use threats to him during the subsequent ^ 
wrangle ?” { ^ 

“Threats! Good gracious, no. I was angry witli 
him for spoiling Miss Layton’s enjoyment. . I called 
him an ass, and said that he had better have remained 
away another year than come back and make mischief. 
That is all. Mrs. Eastham was far more outspoken/’. 

“Indeed. What did she say?” 

“She hinted that his temper was a reminiscence of 
his southern birth, always a sore point with him, and 
contrasted me with him, to his disadvantage All very 
unfair, of course, but you see, she was the hostess, and 
Alan had upset her party very much.” 

“So you walked home, and resolved to hold out the 
olive branch?” 

“Most decidedly. I was older, perhaps a trifle more 
sedate. I knew that Helen loved me. There were no 
difficulties in the way of marriage, which was arranged 
for the following spring. Indeed, my second ttial to<^ 
place on the very date w’e had selected. It was my 
duty to use poor Alan gently. Even his foolish and 
unreasonable jealousy wa,§ a compliment.” 

Brett threw the scrap-book on to the table. He 
clasped his hands in front of his knees, tucking his 
heels on the edge of his chair. 

“Mr. Hume,” he said slowly, gazing fixedly at the 
other, “I believe you. You did not kill your consir.” 


-1 


A JAPANESE REVENGS 21’ , 


f CHAPTER IIL 

THE DREAM. 

I Thank yoti/^ was the quiet answer. 

' "'*You hinted at some supernatural influence in re^ 
Jatlon to this crime. What did you mean 
J^^Ah, that is the unpublished part of the affair. We 
are a Scots family, as our name implies. The first Sir 
A4an Frazer became a baronet owing to his service td 
King George during the '45 Rebellion. There was 
some trouble about a sequestered estate — now our piac^ 
in Scotland — which belonged to his wife's brother, a 
Hume and a rebel. Anyhow, in 1763, he fought a duet 
with Hume's son, his own nephew by marriage, and 
was killed.’’ 

i “Really,” broke In Brett, “this ancient history — ” 

1 “Is quite to the point. Sir Alan the first fought and 
jolied in front of the library at Beechcroft.” 

The barrister commenced to study the moulding iif 
center of the ceiling. ; 

“He was succeeded by his grandson, a little lad of 
Jeight. In 1807, after a heavy drinking bout, the 
second Sir Alan Hume-Frazer cut his throat, and 
diose the scene of his ancestor's duel for the opera- 
lion.” 

“A remarkable coincidence!” 

“In 1842, during a bread riot, the third baronet was 
stabbed with a pitchfork whilst facing a mob in the 
same place. Then a long interval occurred. Again a 
small child became the heir. Three years ago the 
fourth baronet expired whilst the library windows 
were being opened to admit the litter on which he was 
carried from the hunting-field. The fate of the fifth 
;^ou know.” 


A JAPANESE KEVENGE 


•‘1 have never previously heard such a marvelou* 
recital,*^ said Brett. 

"'‘We are a stiff-necked race. My uncle and cousin 
how strangely Fate had pursued every heir to ' 
tht title, yet each hoped that in his person the tragic 
'^^uence would be broken. Gddly enough, my father, 
feolds that the family curse, or w^hatever it is, has now 
«pdiau$ted itself.’^ 

"‘What grounds has he for the belief 

“None, save a Highlander’s readiness to accept signs 
and portents. Look at this seal.^^ 

He unfastened from his waistcoat his watch and 
diain, with a small bunch of pendants attached, and 
handed them to Brett. The latter examined the seal 
With deep interest. It was cut into a bloodstone, and 
showed a stag’s head surmounted by five pointed rays, 
Hke a crown of daggers. 

‘H cannot decipher the motto, he said: “what is 
it?"’ 

"^Fortis et audax.^^ 

“Humi 'Strong and bold.^ A stiff-necked legend, 

He reached to his bookcase for Burke’s General 
\4rmoury. After^a brief search, he asked— 

''Do you know anything about heraldry 

"'Nothing whatever.’’ . 

‘•Then listen to this. The crest of your house is: I 
'A stag’s head, erased argent, charged with a star of I 
l?Ye rays gule.’ It is peculiar.” I 

“Yes, so my father says; but why does it appeal to 
you in that way?” 

“Because 'erased’ means, in this instance, a stag’s 
head torn forcibly from the body, the severed part 
being jagged like the teeth of a saw. And 'gules’ 
means 'red.’ Now, such heraldic rays are usually 
azure or blue.” 

“By Jove, you have hit upon the old man’s idea, 
fie contends that those five blood-colored points sig- 
mfy the founder of the 'baronetcy and his four lineal 


A JAf AKESE REVENGE Si ^ 

descenclafits. Morfeov^r, the race is now extinct in tfm 
direct succession.. The title goes to a collateral' 
branch.^^ Brett stroked his chin thoughtfully. 

^Tt is certainly very strange,’^ he murmured, 
the dry-as-dust knowledge of some member of th^; 
'College of Heralds should evolve these armorial bear*; 
lings with their weird significance. Does this ^ccou«^^' 
for your allusion to the supernatural?” 

I ‘‘Partly. Do not forget my dream,” 

^ ‘‘Tell it to me.” 

“During the trials, my counsel, a very able ma% 
by the way — yon know him, of course, Mr. Dobbie, 
K. C. — only referred to the fact that I dreamed fay 
cousin was in some mortal danger, and that my ex* 
clamatibn ‘He is murdered!' was really a startled com- 
ment on my part induced by the butler's words. Tlia^ 
is not correct. I never told Mr. Dobbie the details oi' 
my dream, or vision.” 

“Oh, didn't you? Men have been hanged before 
today because they thought they could construct a,, 
better line of defense than their counsel.” 

“I had nothing to defend. I was innocent. More- 
over, I knew I should not be convicted.” 

The barrister well remembered the view of the case 
taken by the Bar mess. Even the redoubtable Dobbie 
was afraid of the jury. His face must have conveyed 
dubiety with respect to Hume’s last remark, for th^ 
other : continued eagerly— 

“It is quite true. Wait until I have concluded, 
"After the footman brought the whisky and soda to 
]the library that night, I took a small quantity, and 
j pulled an easy-chair in front of the fire. I was tired, 
having traveled all the preceding night and part of 
the day. Hence the warmth and comfort soon sent ■ 
to sleep. I have a hazy recollection of the man com- 
ing in to put some coal on the fire. In a sub-con- 
scious fashion I knew that it was not mV cousin but a 
servant. I settled down a trifle more comfortably, an(f 
everything became a blank. Then I thought I awoke^ 


24 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


I looked out through the windows, and, to my aston^ 
ishment, it was broad daylight. The trees, too, were 
covered with leaves, the sun was shining, and there 
was every evidence of a fine day in early summer. In 
some indefinite way. I realized that the library was no 
longer the room which I knew. The furniture and 
carpets were different. The books were old-fashioned, 'f 
A very handsome spinning-wheel stood near the open f 
window. There was no litter of newspapers or maga- 
zines. 

Before I could begin to piece together these curious 
discrepancies in the normal condition of things, I 
saw two men riding up the avenue, where the yewj 
trees, by the way, were loftier and finer in every way 
than those really existing. The horsemen were dressed 
in such strange fashion that, unfortunately, I paid 
little heed to their faces. They wore frilled waist- 
coats, redingotes with huge lapels and turned-back: 
cuffs, three-cornered hats, and gigantic boots. They 
dismounted when close to the house. One man held 
both horses ; the other advanced. I was just going ta 
look him straight in the face when another figure ap- 
peared, coming from that side of the hall where the 
entrance is situated. This was a gentleman in very 
elegant garments, hatless, with powdered queue, pink 
satin coat embroidered with lace, pink satin small- 
clothes, white silk stockings, and low shoes. As he 
walked, a smart cane swung from his left w^ist by a; 
silk tassel, and he took a pinch of snuff from an ivory 
box. ^ 

^^The two men met and seemed to have a heated ? 
argument, bitter and passionate on one side, studiously ‘ 
scornful on the other. This was all in dumb show^ ; 
Not a word did I hear. My amazed wits were fully 
taken up with noting their clothes, their postures, the 
trappings of the horses, the eighteenth century aspect 
of the library. Strange, is it not, I did not look at' 
their faces 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


2 $’ 

Brett said not a word, but sat intent, absorbed, won- 
dering, with eyes fixed on the speaker. 

‘‘All at once the dispute became vehement. The 
more stylishly attired man disappeared, but returned 
instantly with a drawn sword in his hand. The 
jStranger as we may call him, whipped out a claymore, 
and the two fought fiercely. By Jove, it was no stage 
combat or French duel. They went for each other as 
3 if they meant it. There was no stopping to take 
t)i-eath, nor drawing apart after a foiled attack. Three 
times they circled round in furious sword-play. Then 
the stranger got his point home. The other, in mortal 
agony, dropped his weapon, and tried with both hands 
to tear his adversary's blade from his breast. He 
failed, and staggered back, the victor still shoving the 
claymore through his opponent’s body. Then, and not 
until then, I saw the face of the man who was 
wounded, probably killed. It was my cousin, Alan 
Hume-Frazer.’^ 

David Hume stopped again. His bronzed face was 
pale now. With his left hand he swept huge drops of 
perspiration from his brow. But his class demands 
coolness in the most desperate moments. He actually 
struck a match and relighted his cigarette. 

“I suppose you occasionally have a nightmare after 
an indigestible supper, Mr. Brett, he went on, “and 
have experienced a peculiar sensation of dumb palsy 
in the presence of some unknown but terrifying dam 
ger? Well, such was my exact state at that moment. 
Alan fell, apparently lifeless. The stranger kissed ^ 
;his bloodstained sword, which required a strong tu^ 

, I before he could disengage it, rattled it back into the 
scabbard, rejoined his companion, and the two rode 
ofF, without once looking back. I can see them now, 
square-shouldered, with hair tied beneath their quaint 
hats, their hips absurdly swollen by the huge pockets 
of their coats, their boots hanging over their kneesv 
iThey wore big bras.6 spiers wkh tremendous rowels 


26 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


and the cantles of their saddles were high and brass- 

bcsipa. 

^^Alan lay motionless. I could neitlier speak nor 
move. Whether I was sitting or stanchng I cannot 
tell you, nor do I know how I was supposed to fee at- 
tired, A darkness came over my eyes. Then a voice™ , 
Helen’s voice — whispered to me, Tear not, dearest;* 
the wrong is avenged.’ I awoke, to find the trembling 
butler shouting in my ear that his master was lying 
dead outside the house. Now, Mr. Brett, I ask you. 
Would you have submitted that fairy tale to a jury? 
I was quite assured of a verdict in my favor, though 
the first disagreement almost shook my faith in 
Helen’s promise, but I did not want to end my days in 
a criminal lunatic asylum.” 

He did not appear to expect an answer. He was 
quite calm again, and even his eyes had lost their in- 
tensity The mere telling of his uncanny experience 
mad a soothing effect. He nonchalantly readjusted hi^ 
Watch and chain, and noted the time. 

have gone far beyond my stipulated half hour,'’ 
he said, forcing a deprecatory smile. 

**Yes; far beyond, indeed. You carried me back to 
1763, but Heaven alone knows when you will end.- ' 

^^Will you take up my case?” 

^Tan you doubt it? Do you think I would throw 
aside the most remarkable criminal puzzle I have ever 
tackled ?” 

Brett, I cannot find words to thank you. If^ 
you succeed — ^and you inspire me with confidence— 
Helen and I will strive to merit your life-long friend- 
ship.” 

^^Miss Layton knows the whole of your story, of 
course ?” 

^‘Yes, she and my father only. I must inform you 
that I had never heard the full reason of the duel be- 
tween the first Sir Alan and his nephew. But my 
father knew it fairly well, and the details fitted in with 
my vision. I can hardly call it a dream.” 


A JAPAN^E REVENGE 2Z 

! 

'VWhat was the nephew's 
David Hume !" 

Brett jumped up and paced about the room- 
f These coincidences defy analysis/' he exclaimed, 
^ Y our Christian tlame is David. Your surname joini 
I both families, ,Why the thing is a romance of the 
f wildest sort." 

1 Unhappily, it has a tragic side for me." 

3 ^^Yes; the story cannot end here. You and your? 
^fiancee have suifered. Miss Layton must be a very 
estimable young lady — one worth winning. She will 
be a true and loyal wife," 

‘‘Do 3rou think you will be able to solve the riddle? 
Some one murdered my cousin." 

‘•That is our only solid fact at present. The family 
tradition is passing strange, but it will not serve in a 
court of law\ I may fail, for the first time, but I will 
try hard. When can you accompany me to Stowmar- 
ket ?" 

The question disconcerted his eager auditor. The 
young man's countenance clouded. 

*Ts it necessary that I should go there?" he asked. 
‘‘Certainly. You must throw aside all delicacy of 
feeling, sacrifice even your own sentiments. That i? 
die one locality where you don't wish to be seen, of 
course ?" 

^ “It is, indeed." 

j “I cannot help that. I must have the assistance of 
I your local and family knowledge to decide the knotty 
I points sure to arise when I begin the inquiry. Cauv 
lyou start this afternoon?" 

I “Yes." j 

“Very well. Come and lunch with me at my club. 
Then we will separate, to meet again at Liverpool 
Street. Smith ! Pack my traps for a week." 

Brett v/as in the hall now, but he suddenly stopped 
his companion. 

“By the way, Hume, you may like to wire to Misf 
Laytoa, My man will the telegram fer vou." 


28 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


David Hume’s barrier of proud reserve vanished 
from that instant. The kindly familiarity of the bar- 
rister's words to one who, during many weary days, 
suspected all men of loathing him as a murderer afi 
large, was directed by infinite tact. 

Hume held out his hand, ‘‘.You arg a good ehap,’' 
he said. 


A JAPANESE REVENO® M 


CHAPTER IV. 

THROUGH THE LIBRARY WINDOW. 

Hume did not send a telegram to the Sleagill Rec- 
tory. He explained that owing to the attitude adopted 
by the Rev. Wilber force Layton, Helen avoided fric- 
tion with her father by receiving his (Hume’s) lettera 
under cover of Mrs. Eastham. 

The younger man was quick to note that Brett did 
not like this arrangement. He smilingly protested tha^ 
there was no deception in the matter. | 

Helen would never consent to anything that sa^ 
vored of subterfuge,” he explained. ^Hler father 
knows well that she hears from me constantly. He 
is a studious, reserved old gentleman. He was very 
much shocked by the tragedy, and his daughter’s in- 
nocent association with it. He told me quite plainly 
that, under the circumstances, I ought to consider the 
engagement at an end. Possibly I resented an imputa- 
tion not intended by him. I made some unfair retort 
about his hypersensitiveness, and promptly sent Helen 
' a formal release. She tore it up, and at the same time 
' accepted it as far as I was concerned. We met at 
: Mrs. Eastham’s house — ^that good lady has remained 
my firm friend throughout — and I don’t mind telling 
you, Brett, that I broke down utterly. Well, we began 
By sending messages to each other through Mrs. East- 
barn. Then I forwarded to Helen in the same way, 
a copy of a rough diary of my travels. She wrote to 
me direct ; I replied. The position now is that she will 
not marry me without her father’s consent and she 
will marry no one else. He is aware of our corre- 
spondence. She always tells him of my movements. 


The poor old rector is worried to know how to act 
for the best. His daughter's happiness is at stake, 
und so my unhappy affairs have drifted aimlessly for 
more than a year/^ 

^^The drifting must cease,” said Brett dedsh^cly. 
•^Beechcroft Hall will protebly provide scope for 
activity.” 

They reached Stowmatket by a late train. Nextj 
morning they drove to Sle igill — pretty village, wiW 
a; Norman church tower sttnding squarely in midst 
of lofty trees, and white washed cottages and red- 
tiled villa-residences nestlii g in gardens. 

*^A bower of orchards s^id green lanes,” murmured 
the barrister as their dog cart sped rapidly over the 
smooth highway. 

Hume was driving. H ; pointed out the rectory. 
His eyes were eagerly scan hing the lawn and the well- 
trimmed garden, but he was denied a sight of his 
divinity. The few people they encountered gazed at 
them curiously. Hume was seemingly unrecognized, 

‘‘Here is Mrs. Eastham’s house,” he said, checking 
die horse’s pace as they approached a roomy, comfort- 
able-looking mansion, occupying an angle wliere the 
village street sharply bifurcated. And there is Beech- 
croft 1” 

The lodge faced the road along which they w'ere 
advancing. Beyond the gates, the yew-lined drive, 
With its selvages of deep green turf, led straight to the| 
Elizabethan house a quarter of a mile distant. | 

Immediately behind the Hall was a dense planta- 
tion of spruce and larch. The man who planned the ' 
estate evidently possessed both taste and spirit. It 
presented a beautiful and pleasing picture. 

will leave the conveyance here,” announced 
Brett. prefer to walk to the house.” 

The hotel groom went to the horse’s head. He did 
liot hear the barrister’s question: 

■H suppose both you and your cousin quitted Mrs. 


A JAPANESE REVENGie 31 

Eastliam^s hous€ by that side door and entered ^ 
jpark through the wicket?^’ 

"’Yes/^ assented Hume, ‘^though I fail to see why 
you should hit upon the side door rather, than tltc 
iiiaiu entrance/' 

J Because tlie ball-room is built out at the Back. 
It was originally a granary. The conservatory opens 
into the garden on the other side. As there was a large 
number of guests, Mrs. Eastham required all her front 
rooms for supper and extra servants, so she asked 
people to halt their carriages at the side door. I 
would not be surprised if the gentlemen^s cloak room 
was provided by the saddle-room there, whilst the 
yard was carpeted and covered with an awning/’ 
Brett rattled on in this way, heedless of his com- 
panion’s blank amazement, and perhaps secretly en- 
joying it 

'T told you none of these things,” Hume cried. 

^ ^Of course not. They are obvious. But tell this 
good kdy that w^e are going to the Hall.” 

Both the main gate and wicket were fastened and 
the lodgekeeoer’s wdfe was gazing at them through the 
bars. 

Hello, Mrs. Crowe, don’t you know tue?” cried 
Hume. 

‘‘My gracious, ifs Mr. David!” gasped tfie woman 
^ ^Why are the gates locked?” 

® Mrs. Capella is not receiving visitors, sir,” 

^ she will receive me, at any rate.” 

% doubt, sir, it will be all right.” 

3 She hesitatingly unbarred the wicket, and the Iw^ 
j men entered. They -walked slowly up the drive, Httml 
was restless. 

I ‘‘It was here,” he said, '^Vtliaf ffie fwo men dis?, 
mounted.” , 

t Then a few yards farther on— 

^ ^Alan came round from the door there, and tfte^ 
f ought here. Alan forced the stranger on to the turf, 
iVhea he w'as stabbed he fell here.” 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


m 

He pointed to a spot where the road cornmenced 
to turn to the left to clear the house. Brett watched 
narrowly. 

'‘ Jt w^as just such a day as this/’ he continued. 
might have been almost this hour. The library win- ] 
dows ” / 

He ceased and looked fixedly towards the house; 
Brett, too, gazed in silence. They saw a small, pale- 
faced, exceedingly handsome Italian — a young man, 
with coal-black eyes and a mass of shining black 
hair — scowling at them from within the library. 

' A black velvet coat and a brilliant tie were the only 
bizarre features of his costume. They served suffi- 
ciently to enhance his foreign appearance. Such a 
man would be correctly placed in the marble frame 
of a Neapolitan villa; here he was unusual, outre, 
un-English,” as Brett put it. 

I But he was evidently master. He flung open the 
window and said, with some degree of hauteur — 

‘‘Whom do you wish to see? Can I be of any as- 
sistance 

His accent was strongly marked but his words were 
well chosen and civil enough, had his tone accorded 
with their sense. As it was, he might be deemed 
rude. 

Brett advanced. 

‘‘Are you Signor Capella?” he inquired, 

*"Mr. Capella. Yes.” 

‘‘Then you can, indeed, be of much assistance. This 
gentleman is Mrs. Capella’s cousin, Mr. David Hume- 
OF* razer.” 

^^Corpo di Baccho!” 

The Italian was completely taken by surprise. His 
eyebrows suddenly stood out in a ridge. His sallow 
sfaii could not become more pallid; to show emotion 
lie flushed a swarthy red. Beyond the involuntary 
exclamation in his own language, he could not find 
words. 

‘‘Yes,” explained the smiling Brett, is a neat 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 3^' 

relative of yours by marriage. We were told by th6 
iodgekeeper that Mrs. Capella was indisposed, but 
under the circumstances, we felt assured that she 
would receive her cousin — ^that is, unless she 
seriously ill.’^ t 

am sorry, he said slowly, ^^but Mrs. Capella 
is too unwell to meet either of you today. 

^^Ah! We share your regrets. Nevertheless, as a 
preliminary to our purpose, you will serve our needs 
equally well. May we not come in?'^ Capella was 
faced with difficult alternatives. lie must either be 
discourteous to two gentlemanly strangers, one of them 
his wife’s relative, or admit them with some show 
of politeness. An Italian may be rude, he c^n. never, 
be gauche. Having decided, Capella ushered them 
into the library with quick transition to dignified ease. 

He asked if he might ring for any refreshments. 
Hume, who glared at his host with uncompromising 
hostility, and had not taken any part in the conversa-» 
tion, shook his head. * 

Brett surprised both, for different reasons, by 
readily falling in with Capella’s suggestion. 

‘CA whisky and soda would be most grateful,” he 
said. 

The Italian moved towards the bell. 

Permit me!” cried Brett. 

; He rose in- awkward haste, and upset his chair with 
a, loud crash on the parquet floor. 

• ^^How stupid of me!” he exclaimed, whilst Hume 
wondered what had happened to flurry the barrister^ 
and Capella smothered a curse. 

^^You probably guess the object of our visit?’* 
Brett said. 

No. Plow should I guess?” 

“^As the husband of a lady so closely connected 
with Mr. Hume ” 

But the Italian seemed to be firmly resolved ta 
tod the suspense. 

'^CarambaS*' he broke in. ^^What is 


M 


A JAPAi^ESE KEViGNGE 


^It is this. Mr, Huaie has asked me to feetp Him 
in the mvestigalion of certain— — 

The library door swung open, and a lady entered. 
She was tall, graceful, distinguished-looking. Her 
cousinship to Hume was unmistakable. In both there 
was the air of aristocratic birth. Their eyes, the , 
contour of their faces, were alike. But the fresh An~te; 
glo-Saxon complexion of the man was replaced inW 
the woman by a peadi-like skin, whilst her hair and^" 
eyebrows were darker. [i 

She was strikingly beautiful. A plain black dre$.^| 
set off a figure that would have caused a sculptor to? ^ 
dream of chiseled marble, 

‘vA passionate, voluptuous wonian/^ thought Brett, 
woman easily swayed, but never to be compelled, 
the ready-made heroine of a tragedy.^’ 

Her first expression was one of polite inquiry, but 
her glance fell upon Hume. Her face, prone to be- 
tray each fleeting emotion, exhibited surprise, almo^ 
ronsternation. 

*'You, Davie ! ■' she gasped. 

' Hume went to meet her. 

‘'Yes, Rita,^^ he said, hope you are glad to see 

Mrs. Capella was profoundly agitated, but she held 
put her hand and summoned the quick smile of an 
actress. 

^ ‘‘Of course I am,'- she cried, did not know | 
you were in England. Why did you not let me know^, 
and why are you here?’^ ‘‘ 

“ I only returned home three days ago. My journey i 
to Beechcroft was a hasty resolve. This is my friend, 
Mn Reginald Brett. He was just about to explain 
to Mr. Capella the object of our visit when jovk . 
came in.^^ 

Neither husband nor wife looked at the other, Mrs. 
Capelia was flustered, indulging in desperate sur- 
mises, but she laughed readily enough, 

*T heard a noise in this room, and then the bdil 


% mv tHQM : M 

rattg. I ttoitght siomethitig had happened. know 
>— f mean, I thought there was no one Here,^ 

fear that I am the culprit, Mrs, CapeKa. Yoiu* 
husband was good enough to invite us to enter by the 
. window, and I prompt!}’ disturbed the household/^ 

I Brett’s pleasant tones came as a relief. Capclla 
* glared at him now with undisguised hostility, for the 
d barrister’s adroit ruse had outwitted him by bHnging 
Jthe lady from the drawing room, which gave on to 
the garden and lawn at the back of the house. 

Please do not take the blame of my intrusion. 
Mr. Brett, said Margaret, with forced composxirei 
^^You will stay for luncheon, will you not? And you^ 
Davie? Are you at Mrs, EaStliam’s ?’• 

Her concluding question was eager, almost wivSifuI, 
Her cousin answered it first. 

‘^No/’ he said. *'vWe have driven over from .Slow* 
market.'^ 

^^And, unfortunately,” put in the barrister, ‘Svc nH 
pledged to visit Mrs. Eastham within an hour/- 
The announcement seemed to please Mrs. Capcila, 
for some reason at present hidden from Brett. Hutne, 
of course, was mystified by the course taken by his 
friend, but held his peace. 

Capella brusquely interfered — 

Perhaps, Rita, these gentlemexi would now like to 
make the explanation which you prevented.” 
j He moved towards the door. So that his wife could 
)rest under no doubt as to his wishes, he held it oi>e^ 
jfor her. 

‘'*No, no!” exclaimed Brett. ‘^This matter concerns 
I Mrs. Capella personally. You probably forget that we 
asked to be allowed to see her in the first instance, but 
you told us that she was too unwell to receive us.’- 
For an instant Margaret gazed at the Italian wiik 
imperious scorn. Then she deliberately turned hex 
back on him and seated herself close to her cousin. 

Capella closed the door and ^valked to the library 
•window. 


36 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


Hume openly showed his pained astonishment 
tins little scene. Brett treated the incident as » do- 
mestic commonplace. 

‘■^The fact is/’ he explained, ^Hhat your cousin, Mrs. 
Capella, has sought my assistance in order to clear^ 
his name of the odium attached to it by the manner of 
Sir Alan Hume-Frazer’s death. At my request he 
brought me here. In this house, in this very room, 
such an inquiry should have its origin, wherever it 
may lead ultimatel}?.’^ 

The lady's cheeks became ashen. Her large eyes di- 
lated. 

‘Hs not that terrible business ended yet?^’ she cried, 
little dreamed that such could be the object of 
your visit, Davie. What has happened — 

The Italian swung round viciously. 

‘Hf you come here as a detective, Mr. Brett/' he 
snapped, refer you to the police. Mr. Hume-Fra/vei; 
is known to them.’' 


JAPANESK REVEN^Glii 


7 


CHAPTER V. 

PROM BEHIND THE HEDGE, 

The man’s swarthy rage added force to the taunfc 
David Hume leaped up, but Brett anticipated himj 
gripping his arm firmly, and without ostentation. 

Margaret, too, had risen. She appeared to be bat'* 
tiing with some powerful emotion, choking back a 
fierce impulse. For an instant the situation was elec-* 
trkal. Then the woman’s clear tones rang througli 
the room. 

'‘T am mistress here,” she cried. ^^Giovanni, remain 
silent or leave us. How dare you, of all men, speal4 
thus to my cousin ?” 

Certainly the effect of the barrister’s straightfor- 
ward statement was unlooked for. But Brett felt that 
a family quarrel would not further his object at that 
moment. It was necessary to stop the imminent out- 
burst, for David Hume and Giovanni Capella were 
silently challenging each other to mortal combat. What 
a place of ill-omen to the descendants of the Georgian 
baronet was this sun-lit library with its spacious 
French windows ! 

^^Of course,” said the barrister, speaking as quietly 
as if he were discussing the weather, ^^such a topic 
is an unpleasant one. It is, however, unavoidable. My 
young friend here is determined, at all costs, to dis^ 
cover the secret of Sir Alan’s murder. It is impera- 
tive that he should do so. The happiness of his whole 
life depends upon his success. Until that mystery 
solved he cannot marry the woman he loves.” 

‘^Do you mean Helen La^^ton?” Margaret’s syl4 
lables might have been so many mortal daggers. 


m 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


^‘Yes, Rita/^ said David Hume. ^^She Has been 
faithful to the end/^ 

A very forcible Italian oath came from Capella as. 
he passed through the window and strode rapidly out 



Forgive she sobbed. do not feei well. Y'oul 
will both be always welcome here. Let no one in-f 


ierfere with you. But I must leave you. This after- | 
noon ^ 


She staggered to the door. Her cousin caught her. 
Thank you, Davie,” she whispered. Leave me 
now, I will be all right soon. My heart troubles 
me. No. Do not ring. Let us keep our miseries’ 
from the servants.” 

She passed out, leaving Hume and the barrister un- 
certain how best to act. The situation had developed 
with a vengeance. Brett was more bewildered than 
ever in his life. 

^‘That scoundrel killed Alan, and now he wants to 
kill his own wifel” growled Hume, when they were 
alone. 

Brett looked through him rather than at him. He 
was thinking intently. For a long time^minutes it 
seemed to his fuming companion — he remained motion- 
less, with glazed, immovable eyes. Then he awoke to 
action. 

^^Quick!” he cried. ^^^Tell me if this room ha^| 
changed much since you were last here. Is the furni- 
ture the same ? Is that the writing-table ? What 
chair did you sit in? Where was it placed? Quick, 
man! You have wasted eighteen months. Give me 
no opinions, but facts.” 

Thus admonished, scared somewhat by the barris- 
ter's volcanic energy, Hume obeyed him. 

There is no material change in the room#^^ ht 
said. ^‘The secretaire is the same. You see, here is 
l^e drawer which was broken open, it bears 


A JAPA>tESE R:^VENGE 


39 ^ 


i^iarks of me implement used to forcfe the lock. I 
think I sat in this chair, or one like it. It was placed 
here. My face Was towards the fire, yet in my dream 
i was looking through the center Wdndow. The Japan-*' 
ese sWord rested here. I showed you where Alan"^ 
;body was found.’^ 

The young man darted about the room to illustrate 
each sentence. Brett followed his words and actions 
without comrheiit. He grabbed his hat and stick. 

will return later in the day/’ he said. ^‘Let ns 
go at once and call on Mrs. Eastham,” 

, ^‘Mrs. Easthain ! Why?” 

Because I want to see Miss Helen Layton, The 
old lady can send for her.” 

Hume needed no urging. He could not walk fasi 
enough. They had gone a hundred yards from the 
house when Brett suddenly stopped and checked his 
companion. 

Behind the yew trees on the left, and rendered 
invisible by a stout hedge, a man was running — run-* 
ning at top speed, with the laboring breath of one un-* 
accustomed to the exercise. The barrister sprang 
oyer the strip of turf, passed among the trees, and 
plunged into the hedge regardless of thorns, tie cam^ 
back, instantly. 

There is a footpath across the park, leading 
towards the lodge gates. Where does it come out 
he asked, speaking rapidly, in a low tone. ; 

enters the road near the avenue, close to 
gates. It leads from a farmhouse.” 

‘‘A lady is walking through the park towards th'^ 
lodge. Capeila is running to intercept her. Cornel 
We may hear something.” ( 

Brett set off at a rapid pace along the turf. Httme: 
followed, and sooii they were near the lodge. Mrs* 
Crowe saw them, and came out. 

*^Stop her!” gasped Bi*ett. 

Hume signalled the woman not to open tlie gate/ 
She watched them with open-mouthed curiosity. Tb^ 


40 


A JA.PANFSE REVENGE 


barrister slowed down and quietly made his w'ay 
to the leafy angle where the avenue hedge joined that 
which shut oif the park from the road. 

He held up a warning hand. Hume stepped warily 
behind him, and both men looked through a portion 
of the hedge where briars were supplanted by hazel 
bushes. 

Capella was standing panting near a stile. A girl, 
dressed in muslin, and wearing a large straw hat, was 
approaching. 

Great Heavens! It is Helen exclaimed Hume. 

They could not see the Italian's face. His back 
was heaving from the violence of his exertion. Miss 
Layton was walking rapidly towards the stile. Ob- 
viously she had perceived the waiting man, and she 
was not pleased. 

Her pretty face, flushed and sunburnt, wore the 
strained aspect of a woman annoyed, but trying to 
be civil. 

It was she who took the initiative. 

Good-day, Mr. Capella,’^ she said pleasantly. Why 
on earth did you run so fast?’^ 

Because I wished to be here before you, Miss 
Layton,” replied the man, his voice tremulous with 
excitement. 

^^Then I wish I had known, because I could have 
beat'm you easily if you meant to race me.” 

^^That was not my object.” 

Well, now you have attained it, whatever it may 
nave been, please allow me to get over the stile. I ; 
will be late for luncheon. My father wished me to 
|scertain how Farmer Burton is progressing after his 
/pill. He was thrown from his dog-cart whilst cpming 
'rom the Bury St. Edmund's fair.” 

‘^Do not play with me, Nellie,” said Capella, fti 
agonized accents. am consumed wdth love of you. 
Can you not, at least, give me your pity?” 

‘^Mr. Capella,” she cried, and none but one blind 
io all save his own passionate desires could fail 


A JAPANESE RE\ EiVGE 4^ 

note her lofty disdain, ^^how can you be so base as ta 
use such language to me 

Base ! To love you 

Again I say it — base and unmanly. What Have 1 
done that you should venture to so insult your charm«^ 
ing wife, not to speak of the insult to myself? When 
you so far forgot yourself a fortnight ago as to hin^ 
at your outrageous ideas regarding me, I forced my-* 
self to remember that you were not an Englishman, 
that perhaps in your country there may be a social 
code which permits a man to dishonor his home and 

annoy a defenseless woman. I cannot forgive you 
4 second time. Let me pass! Let me pass, I tell you^ 
,')r I will strike you!^^ 

Brett, in his admiration for the spirited girl whOj; 
notwithstanding her protestations, seemed to be any-x 
tUng but ^Mefenseless/^ momentarily forgot his com^ 
patiion. ? 

A convulsive tightening of Hume’s muscles, prepar- 
atory to a leap through the hedge, warned him in 
time. 

^TdiotP^ he whispered, as he clutched him again. 

Wcife not the two others so taken up with thi 
throbbmg influences of the moment they must havl 
heard the rustling of the leaves. But they paid littU 
heed to external affairs. The Italian was speaking. 

^^Nelhe,^’ he said, ‘^you will drive me mad. Buf 
listen, carissima. If I may not love you, I can ai 
least defend you. David Hume-Frazer, the man wh<l 
murdered my wife’s brother, has returned, and openlj 
boasts that you are waiting to marry him.” 

Boasts! To whom, pray?” 

^ ^^To me. I heard him say this not fifteen minute! 
since.” 

Where? You do not know him. He! could not Ki 
here without my knowledge.” 

“Then it is true. You do not intend to marry thil 
unconvicted felon ?” 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


n 

^^Mr. Capella, I really think you are what English 
people call ‘cracked/ 

‘‘But you believe me — that this man has come to 
Beechcroft 

“It may be so. He has good reasons, doubtless, for 
keeping his presence here a secret Whatever they 
may be, I shall soon know them/^ 

“Helen, he is not worthy of you. He cannot give 
yOu a love fierce as mine. Nay, I will not be repelled. 

. Hear me. My wife is dying. I will be free in a 
few months. Bid me to hope. I will not trouble 
you. I will go away, but I swear, if you marry Frazer, 
neither he nor you will long enjoy your happiness 

The girl made no reply, but sprang towards the stile 
in sheer desperation. Capella strove to take her in his 
arms, not indeed with intent to offer her any violence ; 
but she met his lover-like ardor with such a \dgorous 
buffet that he lost his temper. 

He caught her. She had almost surmounted tiie 
stile, but her dress hampered her movements. The 
Italian, vowing his passion in an ardent flow of words, 
endeavored to kiss her. 

Then, with a sigh, for he would have preferred to 
avoid an open rupture, Brett let go his hold on Htime. 
Indeed, if he had not done so there must have been a 
fight on both sides of the hedge. 

He turned away at once to light a cigarette. What 
followed immediately had no professional interest for f 
him. I 

But he could not help hearing Helen’s shriek of de- 
lighted surprise and certain other sounds which de** 
noted that Giovanni was being used as a football by 
his near relative by marriage. 

Mrs. Crowe came out of her cottage. 

What’s a-goin’ on in the park, sir?” she inquired 
anxiously. 

“A great event,” he said, “Faust is kicking Mephif- 
topheles.” 

“Drat them colts!” she cried, adding, after takit^' 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


43 . 


thought: ‘^but we haven’t any horsey of them namcs^ 

^‘No! You surprise me. They are of the best 
Italian pedigree.” 

Meanwhile, he was achieving his object, which wa§ 
to drive Mrs. Crowe back towards the wicket. 

Helen’s voice came to them shrilly : 

^^That will do, Davie! Do you hear me?” 

bless my ’cart, there’s Miss Layton,” said 
Mrs. Cfrowe. 

^‘What a fine little boy this is!” exclaimed Brett, 
stooping over a curly-headed urchin. ^Ts he the old- 


est?” 


^^Good gracious, sir, no. He’s the youngest.” 

^^Dear me, I would not have thought so. You must 
have been married very early. Here, my little man, 
see what you can buy for half-a-crown.” 

^^What a nice gentleman he is, to be sure,” thought 
the lodgekeeper’s wife, when Brett passed through 
the smaller gate, assured that the struggle in the park 
had ended. 

^^Just fancy ’im a-thinkin’ Jimmy was the eldest, 
when I will be a grandmother come August if all 
goes well wi’ Kate.” 

The barrister signed to the groom to wait, and 
joined the young couple, who now appeared in the 
1 roadway. A haggard, disheveled, and furious man 
[burst through the avenue hedge and ran across th^ 
drive. 

^^Mrs. Crowe,” he almost screamed, ^Mo you sei 
tfiose two men there?” 



The good woman was startled by her master’s sud- 
den appearance and his Excited state. 

^^They are never to be admitted to the groundaf 

. i . 1 "^99 


:^ain. Do you understand?” 


Yes, sir.’ 


I -A v2>, dll • 

I Capella turned to rush away up the avenue, but ' 
was compelled to limp. Mrs. Crowe watched h 



44 


A JAPANESE KEVENGE 


wonderingly, and tried to piece together in her mind 
the queer sounds and occurrences of the last two 
minutes. 

She had not been long in tlie cottage wdien the 
butler arrived. 

^‘ You let t VO gentlemen in a while ago?^’ he said, 
I did.'' 

‘‘One was Mr. David and the other a Mr. Brett?" 

“Ohj was that the tall gentleman's name?" 

‘‘I expect so. Well, here’s the missus’ written order 
that whenever they want to come to the ’ouse or go 
anywheres in the park it’s O. K." 

Mrs. Crowe was wise enough to keep her own coun-^ 
seh but when the butler retired, she said — 

•^‘Then I’ll obey the missus, an’ master can settle 
it vvitli her. I dpn’t hold by Eye-talians, anyloow*" 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


44 


CHAPTER VI. 

AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE. 

Helen was very much upset by the painful scene 
■which had just been enacted. Its vulgarity appaileci 
her. In a little old-world hamlet like Sleagill, a riot- 
ous cow or frightened horse supplied sensation for 
a week. What would happen when it became known 
that the rector's daughter had been attacked by th^ 
Squire of Beechcroft in the park meadow, and saved 
from his embraces only after a vigorous struggle, iq, 
which her defender was David Hume-Frazer, concern-, 
ing whom the villagers still spoke with bated breath ? 

Of course the girl was much agitated, but Bret^ 
attributed her agitation to its right cause. He knew 
that this healthy, high-minded and athletic young 
woman went under no fear of Capella and his ravings. 

^^^What happened when you jumped the hedge ht 
said to Hume. 1 

handled that scoundrel somewhat roughly, was 
.^the answer. ^Ht was Nellie here who begged fon 
'/mercy on his account.’’ 

• 'jj <‘Ah, well, the incident ended very pleasantly. Nd 
one saw what happened save the principals, a for-, 
tunate thing in itself. We want to prevent a niue 
days’ wonder just now.” 

“Are you quite sure?” asked Miss Layton, over-^ 
joyed at this expression 6i opinion, and secretly sur- 
prised at the interest taken by the barrister in the 
affair, for Hume had not as yet found time to tell' 
her his friend’s name. 

“Quite sure, Miss Layton,” he said, with the miilt 
’iiilch made him such a prompt favorite with 


i46 A JAFANEtK KEVEN^GE 

had nothing to do but observe the mise-en-scene. 
The stage was quite clear for the chief actors* And 
now, may I make a suggestion ? The longer we remain 
here the more likely arc we to attract observation. 
Mr. Hume and I are going to call on Mrs. Eastham. 
May we expect you in an hour’s 

''Can’t you come in with us now?^^ exclaimed David 
©agerly. 

Siie laughed excitedly, being yet flurried. The sud- 
den appearance of her lover tried her nerves more 
llaaa Italian’s passionate avowal. 

*'No, indeed,” she cried. must go home. My 
'father will forget all about his lunch otherwise, and 
T am afraid — I — ^w— -ant to cry!” 

Without another word she hurried oi¥ towards the 
rectory. 

''My dear fellow,” murmured Brett to the discon- 
Bolate Hume, "don’t you understand? She cannot 
bear the constraint imposed by my presence at this 
moment, nor could she meet Mrs. Eastham with any 
degree of composure. Now this afternoon she will 
return a mere iceberg. Mrs. Eastham, I am sure, 
has tact. I am going to the Hall. You two will be 
3eft alone for hours.” 

He turned aside to arrange with the groom concern- 
ing the care of the horse, as they would be detained 
some time m the village. Then the two men ap- 
proached Mrs. Eastham’s residence. 

That good person, a motherly old lady of over sixty, 
was not only surprised but delighted by the advent of 
tDavid Hume. 

"My dear boy,” she cried, advancing to meet him 
with outstretched hands when he entered the morning 
aroom, "what fortunate wind has blown you here?” 

"I can hardly tell you, auntie,” he said — ^bofh Helen 
and he adopted the pleasing fiction of a relationship 
ihat did not exist — ^"yoit must ask Mr. Brett” 

Thus appealed to, the barrister set forth, in a few 
explicit words, the object of their visit 


A RKV«KGK 


481 i 

-<ri 

‘'1 hope and believe you will succeed^^' said Mrs< 
Ea.s£ham impulsively, ^'Providence has guided youfl 
steps here at this hour. You cannot imagine ho«§ 
piiserabie that man Capella makes me.'’ i 

‘Why?” cried Hume, darting a look of surprise al 
Brett. d 

•'Because he is simply pestering Nellie with his at;-* 
tentions. There ! I must speak plainly. He has gone 
to extremes that can no longer be misinterpreted, 
j In our small community, Mr. Brett,” she explained, 

" '-'though we dearly love a little gossip, we are slow to 
believe that a man married to such a charming il 
somewhat unconventional woman as Margaret Hume-' 
h'razer — I cannot train my tongue to call her Mrs, 
Capella — would deliberately neglect his wife and dare 
to demonstrate his unlawful affection for another 
woman, especially such a girl as Helen Layton.” 

"How long has this been going on?” inquired Brett* 
for Hume was too furious to speak. 

•'For some months, but it is only a fortnight agd 
since Helen first complained of it to me. I promptly 
told Mr. Capella that I could not receive him again 
at my house. He discovered that Nellie came here a 
good deal, and managed to call about the same time 
as she did. Then he found that she was interested in 
Japanese art, and as he is really clever in that re- 
spect- 

•‘ Clever,” interrupted the barrister. you mean: 
that he understands lacquer work, Satsuma ware, 
painting or inlaying? Is he a connoisseur or a stu-' 
dent ?” 

'• It is all Greek to me !” exclaimed the old lady, 
unquestionably the bits of china and queer carvings 
he often brought here were very beautiful. Nellie 
did not like him personally, but she could not deny 
his knowledge and enthusiasm. Margaret, too, used to 
invite her to the Hall, for Miss Layton has great taste 
as an amateur gardener, Mr. Brett. But this friend- 
ship suddenly ceased.-Mr. Capella became very strata 


'H-8^ 'A JAPANESE REVENGE 

and gloomy m his manner. At last Nellie told me that 
,the wretched man had dared to utter words of love 
1^0 her, hinting that his wife could not live long, and 
^ ^hat he would come in for her fortune. Now, as my 
Ipoor. girl has been the most faithful soul that ever| 
jiived, never for an instant doubting that some day the ' 

; cloud would lift from Davie, you may imagine what a.^ 
shock this was to her.’^ 

i ‘‘Mrs. Eastham/’ said Brett, suddenly switching the 
conversation away from the Italian’s fantasy, “you 
are well acquainted with all the circumstances con- 
nected with Sir Alan’s murder. Have you formed any. 
itheory about the crime, its motive, or its possible 
author 

I “God forgive me if I do any man an injury, buli 
I in these last few days I have had my suspicions/^ she 
I exclaimed. 

j “Tell me your reasons.’^ 

j “It arose out of a chance remark by Nellie. SHe 
jfwas discussing with me her inexplicable antipathy 
jlo Mr. Capella, even during the time when they were 
IjDutwardly good friends. She said that once he showed 
jlier a Japanese sword, a most wonderful piece of 
I workmanship, with veins of silver and gold let into the 
handle and part of the blade. To the upper part of 
the scabbard was attached a knife — a small dagger — « 
'similar — 

“ Yes, I understand. An implement like that used to 
Idll Sir Alan Hume-Frazer.’^ ^ ^ . . h 

“Exactly. Nellie at first hardly realized its slgnifi-f 
cance. Then she hastily told Capella to take it away, f 
but not before she noticed that he seemed to under- 
stand the dreadful thing. It is fastened in its sheatE 
by a hidden spring, and he knew exactly how to open 
it. Any person not accustomed to such weapon^ 
would endeavor to pull it out by main force.’^ 

Brett did not press Mrs. Eastham to pursue her. 
theory. It was plain that she regarded the Italian as 
a man who might conceivably be the murderer of his 


A JAPANESE REVSW.GE 


49 


:v/ife’s brotker. This was enough for feminine logic. 

Hume, too, shared the same belief, and had not 
scrupled to express it openly. 

There were, it was true, reasons in plenty why Ca- 
j)ella should have committed this terrible deed. He 
was, presumably, affianced to Margaret at the time. 
'Apparently her father’s will had contemplated the cut- 
ting down of her annual allowance. The young heir 
had, on the other hand, made up the deficit. But why 
did these artificial restrictions exist? Why were pre- 
cautions taken by the father to diminish his daughter’s 
income ? She had been extravagant. Both father and 
ferother quarreled with her on this point. Indeed, 
there was a slight family disturbance with reference 
to it during Sir Alan’s last visit to London. Was 
iCapella mixed up with it? 

‘ At last there was a glimmering perception of mo- 
tive for an otherwise fiendishly irrational act. Did it 
tend to incriminate the Italian? 

A summons to luncheon dispelled the momentary 
gloom of their thoughts. Before the meal ended Miss 
Layton joined them. 

f Brett looked at his watch. Fifty minutes!’^ he 
said. 

Then they all laughed, except Mrs. Eastham, who 
marveled at the coolness of the meeting between the 
girl and David. But the old lady was quick-witted, 

^‘Have you met before?’’ she cried. 

^^Dearest,” said the girl, kissing her; ^Mo you mean 
to say they have not told you what happened in the 
park ?” 

i ^^That will require a special sitting,” said Brett 
/ gaily. Meanwhile, I am going to the Hall. I sup- 
pose you do not care to accompany me, Hume ?” 

. do not.” 

^ The reply was so emphatic that it created further 
merriment. 

“Well, tell me quickly what this new secret is,” 
txclaimed Mrs. Eastham, “because in five minutes I 


50 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


must have a long talk with my cook. She m 
prepare pies and pastry sufficient to f^ed nearly a 
hundred school children next Monday, and it is a 
flatter of much calculation/' Brett took his leave. 

•‘I knew that good old soul would be tactful,” he 
^fiiid to himself. ’‘Now I wonder how Winter made 
such a colossal mistake as to imagine that Hume mur- 
dered his cousin. He was sure of the affections of a 
delightful girl ; he could not succeed to the property ; 
lie has declined to take up the title. What reason, 
could he have for committing such a crime?” 

Then a man walked up the road — a man dressed 
like a farmer or grazier, rotund, strongly-built, cheer- 
ful-looking, He halted opposite Mrs. Eastham^s house, 
where the barrister still stood drawing on his gloves, 
on the doorstep. 

^‘Yes,” said Brett aloud, ^^you are an egregious ass. 


‘‘Why, Mr. Brett?’' asked the unabashed detective^ 
Isn’t the make-up good?” 

*nt is the make-up that always leads you astray-^ 
You never theorize above the level of the Police Gch 




Mr. Winter yielded to not unnatural annoyance. 
With habitual caution he glanced around to assure 
himself that no other person was within earshot ; then « 
he said vehemently : | 

•‘I tell you, Mr. Brett, that swine kUled Sir Alanf 
Hume-Frazer.” ; 

‘‘You use strong language.” 

“ Not stronger than he oeserves.” 

•'What are you doing here?” 

‘H heard he was in London, and watched him. I 
saw him go to your chambers and guessed what was . 
up, so I came down here to see you and tell you what 
I know.” 

•‘Out of pure good-nature 1”’ 

“You can believe it or not, Mr. Brett. It is the 






A J APANESE REVENGE ‘ 5i 

f has been tried and acqwittcd. He cannot be 

|ried again. Does Scotland Yard — 
j ^*I’m on my holidays/^ 

I Brett laughed heartily. 

I ’bus-driver's holiday!’’' he cried, how 

jkmg?” 

I ‘^Fourteen days. 

J You are nothing if not ptofessional, I suppose it 
jwas not your first offense, or they might have let 
^ you off with a fine.” 

Tlie detective enjoyed this departmental joke. He 
grinned broadly. 

‘^Anyhow, Mr. Brett,” lie said, ^*‘you and I have 
feeen engaged on too many smart bits of work for me 
sto stand quietly by and let you be made a fool of.” 

The barrister came nearer, and said, in a low tone : 

^‘Winter, you have never been more mistaken in 
your life. Now, attend to my words. If you help 
me you will, in the first place, be well paid for your 
services. Secondly, you will be able to place your 
hand on the true murderer of Sir Alan Hume-Frazer, 
or I will score my first failure. Thirdly, Scotland 
•Yard will give you another holiday, and I can secure 
you some shooting in Scotland. What say you?” 

The detective looked thoughtful. Long experience 
had taught him not to argue with Brett when the lat- 
ter was in earnest. 

will do anything in my power,” he said, “but 
ihcre is more in this business than perhaps you are 
• aware of — ^more than ever transpired at the Assizes.” 
I ‘‘Quite so, and a good deal that has transpired siiKe. 
^'4 Now, Winter, don’t argue, there’s a good fellow. Go 
^ and engage the landlord of the local inn in a discussion 
©n crops. I am off to Beechcroft Hall, Mr, Hume 
and I will call for you on our way back to Stowunarkct. 
hi our private sitting-room at the hotel there T \Yill 
explain everything.” 

They parted. Brett was promptly admitted by Mvi, 
rCrowe and walked rapidly up the avenue. 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


£2 

Winter watched his retreating figure. 

smart, I know he's smart,” mused the 
tective. ^^But he doesn't know everything about this 
affair. He doesn’t know. I'll be bound, that David 
Hunie-Frazer waited for his cousin that night outside 
the library. I didn't know it — worse luck ! — until after 
he was acquitted. And he doesn't know that Miss Nel- 
lie Layton didn't reach home until 1 :30 a. m., though 
she left the ball at 12:15, and her house is, so to 
speak, a minute’s walk distant. And she was in a car- 
riage. Oh, there^s more in this case than meets the 
eye! I can’t say which would please me most, to 
find out the real murderer, if Hume didn't do it, or 
prove Mr. Brett to be in the wrong !” 


S3 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


CHAPTER VIL 

HUSBAND AND WIFE, 

Brett did not hurry on his way to the Hall. Already 
things were in a whirl, and the confusion was so great 
that he was momentarily unable to map out a definite 
line of action. 

The relations between Capella and his wife were 
evidently strained almost to breaking point, and it was 
ihis very fact which caused him the greatest per- 
plexity. ^ 

They had been married little more than six months* ’ 
They were an extraordinarily handsome couple, ap-j 
parently well suited to each other by temperament and ' 
mutual sympathies, whilst their means were ample' 

enough to permit them to live under any conditions 
they might chose, and gratify personal hobbies to the 
fullest extent. ^ 

What, then, could have happened to divide them 
so completely ? 4 . 

I Surely not Capella's new-born passion for Fleien 
>Layton. Not even a hot-blooded Southerner could be 
^guilty of such deliberate rascality, such ineffable folly, 
during the first few months after his marriage to a 
.. beautiful and wealthy wife. 

I No, this hypothesis must be rejected. Margaret 
' Capella had drifted apart from her husband almost 
as soon as they reached England on their return as 
man and wife. Capella, miserable and disillusioned, 
buried alive in a country place — for such must exis- 
tence in Beechcroft mean to a man of his inclinations 
— had discovered a startling contrast between his pas- 
sionate and moody spouse, and the bright, pleasant- 


54 A JAPANESE REVENfiR 

Biannered girl, whose ill- fortune it was to create dis- 
^X)rd between the inmates of the Hall. 

This theory did not wholly exonerate the Italian, 
but it explained a good deal. The barrister saw no 
cause as yet to suspect Capella of the young baronet's 
murder. Were he guilty of that ghastly crime, his 
motive must have been to secure for himself the posi-J 
tion he was now deliberately imperilling — all for 
girl's pretty face. ; 

The explanation would not suffice. Brett had seen' 
much that is hidden from public ken in the vagaries 
of criminals, but he had never yet met a man wholly 
bad, and at the same time in full possession of his 
senses. ; 

He asked a footman if Mrs. Capella would receive 
him. The man glanced at his card, 

^‘ Yes, sir,'' he said at once. Madam gave instruc- 
tions that if either you or Mr. David called you were 
to be taken to her boudoir, where she awaits you.” 

The room was evidently on the first floor, for the 
servant led him up the magnificent oak staircase that 
climbed two sides of the reception hall. 

But this was fated to be a day of interruptions. 
The barrister, when he reached the landing, was con- 
fronted by the Italian. 

word with you, Mr. Brett,” was the stiff greet- 
irig given to him. 

‘‘Certainly. But I am going to Mrs. Capella's 
room.” 

“She can wait. She does not know you are here. 
James, remain outside until Mr. Brett returns. Then 
conduct him to your mistress.” 

Capella's tone admitted of no argument nor was 
it necessary to protest Brett always liked people 
to talk in the way they deemed best suited to theit 
own interests. Without any expostulation,^ therefore, 
he followed his limping host into a luxuriously fur- 
nished dressing-room. 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 

Gapella dosed the door, and placed himself gently 
on a couch. 

^‘Does your friend fight?” he said, fixing his dark 
eyes, blazing with anger, intently on the other, 

^^That is a matter on which your opinion would 
probably be more valuable than mine.” 

' Spare me your wit. You know well what I mean. 
Will he meet me on the Continent and settle our quar- 
rel like a gentleman, not like a hired bravo ?” 

^‘What quarrel?” 

^‘Mr. Brett, you are not so stupid. David Hume. 

■ notwithstanding his past, may still be deemed a man 
of honor in some respects. He treated me grossly this 
morning. Will he fight me or must I treat him as a 
cur ?” ^ 

Brett, without invitation, seated himself. He pro- 
duced a cigarette and lit it, adding greatly to Ca- 
pella’s irritation by his provoking calmness. 

“Really,” he said at last, “you amuse me.” 

“Silence!” he cried imperatively when the Italiati ' 
would have broken out into a torrent of expostulations. 
“Listen to me, you vain fool!” 

This method of address had the rare merit of ; 
achieving its object Capella was reduced to a coiidi- ' 
tion of speechless rage. 

“You consider yourself the aggrieved person, I sup- 
pose,” went on the Englishman, subsiding into a state 
of contemptuous placidity. “You neglect your wife^ 
make love to an honorable and pure-minded girl, stoop 
' to the use of unworthy taunts and even criminal in- 
; nuendos, lose such control of your passion as to lay ' 
I sacrilegious hands upon Helen Layton, and yet you > 
P resent the well-merited punishment administered to 
you by her affianced husband. Were I a surgeon, Mr, 
Capella, I might take an anatomical interest in your 
brain. As it is, I regard you as a psychological study 
in latter-day blackguardism. Do you understand me 

“Perfectly. You have not yet answered my ques- 
tion. Will Hume fight?” 


56 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


should say that nothing would give him greater 
pleasure.’’ 

^^Then you will arrange this matter? I can send % 
friend to you?” 

^^And if you do I will send the police to you, tliGs 
possibly anticipating matters somewhat.” 

^‘What do you mean?” 

mean that my sole purpose in life just now is to 
lay hands on the man who killed Sir Alan Hume*- 
Frazer. Until that end is achieved, I will take good 
care that your crude ideas of honor are dealt witr., 
as they were today, by the toe of a- boot.” 

Capella was certainly a singular person. He lis- 
tened unmoved to Brett's threats and insults. He gave 
that snarling smile of his, and toyed impatiently with 
his moustache. 

‘^Your object in life does not concern me. Your 
courts tried their best to hang the man who was re- 
sponsible for his cousin’s death, and failed. I take it 
you decline this proffered duel, so I will fight David 
Hume in my own way. Caramba! We shall se-a 
now who wins. He will never marry Helen.” 

‘^What did you mean just now when you said that 
he was ‘responsible for his cousin’s death’ ? Is that an 
Italian way of describing a cold-blooded murder?” 

James!” Capella shouted. 

The footman entered. 

^^Take this gentleman to your mistress. I have doni 
with him.” 

“Fox* the present, James,” said Brett. 

The astonished servant led him along a corridof! 
and knocked at a door hidden by a silk curtain. Mrs. 
Capella rose to receive her visitor. She was very palt 
now, but quite calm and dignified in manner. 

Davie did not come with you?” she said, wheit 
Brett was seated near to her in an alcove formed 
by an oriel window. 

^^No. He is with Miss Layton.” 




A JAPANESE REVENGE 52 

' ‘^Ah, I am not sorry. I prefer to talk with you 

alone.’^ 

is perhaps better. Your cousin is impulsive in 
% some respects, though self-contained enough in others.’^ 
f ‘^It may be so. I like him, although we have not 
II seen much of each other since we were children. I 
llknew him this morning principally on account of his 
Iflikeness to Alan. But you are his friend, Mr. Brett, 

I and I can discuss with you matters I would not care 
^ to broach with him. He is with Helen Layton now, 
you say?’^ 

^‘Yes, and let me add an explanation. Those two 
young people are devoted to each other. No power : 
on earth could separate them.” 

^^Why do you tell me that?” 

^^Because I think you wished to be assured of it.” 

You are clever, Mr. Brett. If you can interpret a 
criminars designs as well as you can read a woman's 
heart you must be a terror to evil-doers.” 

A slight color came into her cheeks. The barrister 
leaned forward, his hands clasped and arms resting 
on his knees. 

have just seen your husband,” he said. 

She exhibited no marked sign of emotion, but hd 
thought he detected a frightened look in her eyes. 

Again I ask,” she exclaimed, ^^why do you tell 
me?” 

I ^‘The reason is obvious. You ought to know all 

i Vthat goes on. There was a quarrel this morning be- 
Itween him and David Hume. Your husband wished 
fmz to arrange a duel. I promised him a visit from 
[ the police if I heard any more of such nonsense.” 

^^A duel! More bloodshed!” she almost whispered, 

' ^‘Do not have any alarm for either of them. They 
are quite safe. I will guarantee so much, at any 
rate. But your husband is a somewhat curious per- 
son. He is prone to strong and sudden hatreds — and 
attachments.” 

Margaret pressed her hands to her face. She could 


53 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


ji5 Idhger bear the torture of niake-bfelieve quiesGenceV 

^^Oh, what shall I do?^^ she wailed. am the! 
indst miserable woman in England today, and I tn'ighf 
have been the happiest.^^ 

‘‘Why are you miserable, Mrs. Capella?^^ asked 
Brett gently. 

cannot tell 3^ou. Perhaps it is owing to my owti 
folly. So you are sure that David and Helen intend 
to get married ? For Heaven’s sake, let the wedding 
take place. Let them leave Beechcroft and its asso- 
ciations forever.’’ 

That cannot be until Htime’s character is cleared 
from the odium attached to it.” 

^^You mean my brother’s death. But that has been 
settled by the courts. David was declared ‘Not Guilty/ 
Surely that will suffice! No good purpose can be 
gained by reopening an inquiry closed by the law.” 

‘H think you are a little unjust to your cousin in this 
matter, Mrs. Capeila. He and his future wife feel 
very grievously the slur cast upon his name. You 
know perfectly well that if half the people in this 
county v/ere asked, ‘Who killed Sir Alan Hume- 
Frazer?’ they would say ‘David Hume.’ The other 
half would shake their heads in dubiety, and prefer 
not to be on visiting terms with David Hume and 
his wife. No; yoUr brother was killed in a partic- 
ularly foul way. He died needlessly, so far as we can 
learn.” 

^‘In what way can I help you?” she murmured, and 
the words appeared to come from a heart of stone. 

“There are many items I want cleared up, but 1 
do not wish to distress you unduly. Can you not refer 
me to your solicitors, for instance? I imagine they 
will be able to an^er all my queries.” 

“ No. I prefer to deal with the affair myself.” 

“Very well. I will commence with you personally. 
Why did you quarrel with your brother in London ag 
few days before his death?” 

“ Because I was living extravagantlj". No% only tha^ 




A JAPANESE REVENGE 


5St 


but be disapproved of my manner of life. In those 
days I was headstrong and wilful. I loved a Bo- 
hemian existence combined with absurd luxury, or ; 
rather, a wildly useless expenditure of money. No one 
, who knows me now could picture me then. Yet now 
I am good and unhappy. Then I was wicked in some 
people's eyes and happy. What annoyed Alan was, 
the fact that I had borrowed from money-lenders.,” 
‘W/ho else knew of your disagreement with him 
sides these money-lenders and his solicitors ?” ; 

‘^Ali my friends. I used to laugh at his serious : 
ways, when I, older and much more experienced in’ 
some respects, treated life as a tiresome joke. But 
none of my" friends were eommissioned to murder my 
brother so that I might obtain the estate, Mr. Brett.” 
‘‘Not by you,” he said thoughtfully. 

He knew well that to endeavor to get Margaret to 
implicate her husband would merely render her an 
active opponent She loved this Italian scamp. She 
was profoundly thankful that David Hume had come 
back to claim the hand of Helen Layton, the woman 
who had been the unwilling object oLC^apella’s wayr 
ward affections. She would only too glad to give 
half her property to the young couple if they vrould 
settle in New Zealand or Peru— far from Beechcroft. 

Yet it was impossible to believe that she could love 
a man whom she svispected of murdering her brother. 
Why, then, had husband and wife drifted apart? 
Assuredly the pieces of the puzzle were inextricably 
mixed. 

Where did you marry Mr. Capella?” asked Brett 
suddenly. 

Naples— a civil ceremony, before the Mayor 
and registered by the British Consul,” 

^‘Had you been long acquainted?” 

met hini, oddly enough, in Covent Garden 
Theater, the night my brother was killed.” 

It was now Brett's turn to be startled. 

you quite certain of this?” he asked, his sur- 


60 A JAPANESE REVENGE 

prise at the turn taken by the conversation almost 
ihrowing him off his guard. 

‘^Positive. Were you led to believe that Giovanni 
was the murderer?’^ 

Her voice was cold, impassive, marvelously under | 
control. It warned him, threw him back into the safe ! 
role of Hume's adviser and friend. ’ ? 

“I am led to believe nothing at present,” he said) 
slowly. ^^This inquiry is, as yet, only twenty-four, 
hours old so far as I am concerned. I am seeking 
information. When I am gorged with facts, I proceed 
to digest them.” 

‘‘Werf, what I tell you is true. I had a box at tfie 
Fancy Dress Ball that New Year's Eve. I invited nine 
guests. One of them, an attache at the Italian Em- 
bassy, brought Giovanni and introduced him to me. 
We were together from midnight until 4:30 a. m. 
Whilst poor Alan was lying here dead, I was revelling 
at a hal masque. Do you think I am likely to forget 
the circumstances?” 

The barrister determined, once and for all to end 
an unpleasant scene. 

‘^'Will you tell me why you and your husband have, 
shall we say, disagreed soon after your marriage? You 
were formed by nature to be mated. What has driven 
YOU apart?” 

cannot tell you,” she said brokenly, ^^but the 
cause — in no way — concerns — either my brothcr^s ; 
death — or David's innocence. It is personal — ^between 
Giovanni and myself. In God's good time, it may te 
put right.” 

Brett was moved now by a profound pity for the 
woman who thus bared her heart to him. 

‘‘Thank you for your candor, Mrs. Capella,” he 
exclaimed, with a fervor that evidently touched her. 

^‘ May I ask you one more question, and I have done 
with the most unpleasant ordeal. Do you suspect any 
person of being your brother's assasrin?” 

"‘No.” she said. “Indeed I do not.” 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


m 


CHAPTER VIII. 

REVELATIONS. 

Hume and Winter did not meet on terms that might 
be strictly described as cordial. 

Brett, on quitting the Hall, had surrendered himself 
to a spell of vacant bewilderment. He hailed the un- 
willing Hume from Helen’s society, and picked up the 
detective at the Wheat Sheaf Inn, Then the barrister, 
from sheer need of mental relief, determined to have 
some fun with them. 

^^You two ought to know each other,” he said good- 
humoredly. ^^At one time you took keen interest in 
matters of mutual concern. Allow me to introduce 
you Hume — this is Mr. Winter, of Scotland Yard.” 

David was quite unprepared for the meeting. 

^AVhat?” he exclaimed, his upper lip stiffening’, 
^Hhe man who concocted all sorts of imaginary evH 
dcnce against me !” ' 

'Concocted' is not the right word, nor "imaginary*' 
either,” growled Winter. 

i, Quite right,” said Brett. ""Really, Hume, you 
; should be more careful in your choice of languag’e. 
I Had Winter been as careless in his statements at thf 
f. Assizes, he would certainly have hanged you.” 
f Hume was too happy, after a prolonged tete-a-teta 
with his beloved, to harbor malice against any person. 

""What are we supposed to do — shake hands he 
inquired. 

""It might be a good preliminary to a better under- 
standing of one another. You think Winter is an 
unscrupulous ruffian. He described you to me as a’ 
swine not two hours ago. Now, you are both wrong. 


i2 A JAPANESE REVENGE 

•V/inter is the best living police detective, and a most 
lair-minded one. He will be a valuable ally. Before 
many days are over you will be deeply in his debt in 
every sense of the word. On the other hand, you, 
Hume, are a much^wronged man, whom Winter must 
help to regain his rightful position. j!^ow be friends, 
and let us start from that basis/^ 

Hume and the detective got along comfortably once 
the ice was broken. Naturally, they steered clear of 
all reference to the tragedy in the presence of tht 
servant Their talk dealt briefly with sporting mat- 
ters. 

Brett, carried swiftly along the level road, kept Sis 
eyes fixed on Beeehcroft and its contiguous hai^et 
until they vanished in the middle distance. 

“This is the most curious inquiry I was ever en- 
gaged he communed. Winter, of course, will 
fasten on to Capella like a horse leech when he knows 
the facts. Yet Capella is neither a coward nor an or- 
dinary villain. For some ridiculous reason, I have a 
sneatang sympathy with him. Had he stormed and 
blustered when I pitched into him today I would have 
thought less of him. And his wife ! What mysterious 
workings of Fate brought those two together and then 
disunited them? They become fascinated one with 
the other whilst the brother’s corpse is still palpitating 
beneath that terrible stroke. They get married, with 
not unreasonable haste, but no sooner do they reach 
'Beeehcroft, a house of evil import if ever bricks and 
mortar had such a character, than they are driven 
asunder by some malign influence.’^ 

Once securely entrenched in a private sitting-room 
of the Stowmarket Hotel, the three men began to dis- 
cuss the crime. 

Mr. Winter commenGed by being confidential and 
professional. 

‘^Now, Mr. he said, *^as misunderstand- 

ings have been cleared, to some extent, by Mr. Brett’s 


63 


A JAPANESE 

remarks, I will, with your permission, ask you a few 
questions.^' 

•'Fire away.”^ ' 

- ‘‘In the first place, your counsel tried to prove — djd 
prove, in fact — that you walked strs^ight from the 
ball-room to the Hall, sat down in the library, aiid 
did not move from your chair until Ferguson, the but- 
> ler, told you how he found Sir Alan’s body/^ 
‘‘Exactly/’ 

^ “So if a man comes forward now and swears that 
he ^vatched you for nearly ten minutes standing in 
the shadow^ of the yevrs on the left of the house he 
will not be telling the truth 
“That is putting it mildly/’ 

“Yet there is such a witness in existence^ and I am 
certain he is not a liar in this ’matter/’ 
i “What!” 

' Brett and Hume ejaculated the word simultane- 
ously; the one surprised, because he knew how' care^ 
f ui Winter was in matters of fact, the other indignanti 
at the disbelief in his statement. 

“ Please gentlemen,” appealed the detective, secretly 
gratified by the sensation he caused, “wait until I 
have finished. If I did not fully accept Mr. Brett’s 
views on this remarkable case I would not be sitting 
here this minute* My conscience would not permit it.” 

“Be virtuous, Winter, but not tpo virtuous,” broke; 
in Brett, 

“There you go again, sir, questioning my motives. 
I But I am of a forgiving disposition. Now, there can- 
I be the slightest doubt that a poacher named John 
’>\Tse, better known as ‘Rabbit Jack/ who resides in 
this town, chose that New Year’s Eve as an excellent 
time to net the meadows behind the Hall. He had 
heard about Mrs. Eastham’s dance, and knew that on 
such a night the estate keepers would have mere liking 
for fun with the coachmen and maids than for game- 
watching. He entered the park soon after midnight, 
and saw a gentleman walk up the avenue towar4i> tiis, 


64 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


house. He waited a few minutes and crept quietly; 
along the side of the hedge^ — in the park, of course. 
Being winter time, the trees and bushes were bare 
and he was startled to see the same gentleman, with 
his coat buttoned up, standing in the shade of the yews 
close to the Hall. ‘Rabbit Jack’ naturally thought he & 
had been spotted. He gripped his lurcher’s collar and g 
stood still for nearly ten minutes. Then it occurred ta‘ g 
him that he was mistaken. He had not been seen, so H 
he stole off towards the plantation and started opera- ^ 
tions. He is a first-rate poacher, and always works 
alone. About three o’clock he was alarmed by a police- 
man’s lantern— the search of the grounds after the 
murder, you see — and made off. He entered Stowniar- 
ket on the far side of the town, and ran into a police- 
man’s arms. They fought for twenty minutes. The 
P. C. won, and ‘Rabbit Jack’ got six months’ hard 
labor for being in unlawful possession of game and 
assaulting the police. Consequently, he never heard 
a syllable about the ‘Stowmarket Mystery,’ as this 
affair was called by the Press, until long after Mr. 
Hume s second trial and acquittal. Yet the first thing 
"Rabbit Jack’ did after his release was to go straight 
to the police and tell them what he had se^n. I jhink, 
Mr. Hume, that even you will admit a gcod deal de- 
pended on the result of the fight between the poacher 
and the bobby, for ‘Rabbit Jack’ described a man of 
your exact appearance and dressed as you were that ^ 
night. 8 

There was silence for a moment when Winter ended. 

“It is evident,” said Brett, otherwise engaged in ; | 
making smoke-rings, “that ‘Rabbit Jack’ saw the real ; 
murderer.” 

“A man like me — In evening dress! Who on earth 
could he be?” was Hume’s natural exclamation. 

“'We must test this chap’s story,” said Brett. 

“How?” 

“Easily enough. There is a garden outside. Can 
you bring this human bunny here tonight ?” 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 63 

think so.’^ 

‘^Very well. Stage him about nine o’clock. Any- 
thing else 

Mr. Winter pondered a little while; then he ad- 
dressed Hume hesitatingly — • 

^^Does Mr. Brett know everything that happened 
^fter the murder?” 

. “I think so. Yes.” 

“Everything! Say three-quarters of an hour after- 
wards ?” 

, The effect of this remark on Hume was very pro- 
nounced. His habitual air of reserve gave place to a 
state of confusion. 

“What are you hinting at?” he cried, striving hard 
to govern his voice, / 

“Well, it must out, sooner or later. Why did you' 
go to meet Miss Helen Layton in the avenue about 
1:30 a. m. — soon after Sir Alan’s body had been 
examined by the doctor ?” i 

“Oh, damn it, man, how did you ascertain that?” 
groaned Hume, ; 

“I knew it all along, but I did not see that it was 
very material to the case, and I wanted to keep the 
poor young lady’s name out of the affair as far as 
possible, I did not want to suggest that she was an 
l accessory after the crime.” 

Hume was blushing like a schoolboy. He glanced 
'I miserably at Brett, but the barrister was still puffing 
I artistic designs in big and little rings. 

’ “Very well. My reason for concealment disappears 
now,” he blurted out, for the young man was both’ 
vexed and ashamed. “That wretched night after she 
returned home, Helen thought she had behaved fool- 
ishly in creating a scene. She put on a cloak, changed 
her shoes and slipped back again to Mrs. Eastham’s ’ 
where she met Alan just coming away. She implored 
him to make up the quarrel with me. He apologized 
for his conduct, and promised to do the same to me 
we met. He explained that other matters had 


66 A jaMnsse revenge 

upset his temper that day, and he had momentarily 
yielded to an irritated belief that everything was 
against him, Helen watched him epter the park ; she 
pretended that she was going in to Mrs. Eastham's. 
She could see the lighted windows of the library, and 
she wondered why he did not go inside, but imagined 
that at the distance she might easily be mistaken. At 
last she ran ofi to the rectory. Again she lingered in 
the garden, devoutly wishing that all might be well 
between Alan and me. Then she became conscious that 
something unusual had taken place, owing to the lights 
and commotion. For a long time she was at a loss to 
conjecture what could have happened. At last yielding 
to curiosity, she came back to the lodge. The gates 
were wide open. Mrs. Eastham's dance was still in 
progress. She is not a timid girl, so she w^alked boldly 
up the avenue until she met FergiisGn, the butler, wdio 
was then going to tell Easthani. When she 

heard his story she was too shocked to credit it, and 
asked him to bring me, I came. By that time I was 
’‘beginning to realize that I might be implicated in the 
affair, and I begged her to return home at once, alone. 
She did so. Subsequently she asked me not to refer to 
the escapade, for obvious reasons. It was a woman's 
secret, Brett, and I was compelled to keep it,^^ 

Anything else, Winter?’^ demanded the barrister, 
wrapped in a cloud of his own creation. 

^^That is all sir, except the way in which I heard of 
Miss Layton’s meeting with Mr. Hume.” 

^^Ndt through Ferguson, eh?” 

^^Not a bit. The old chap is as close as wax. He! 
seems to think that a Hume-Frazer must die a violent' 
death outside that library window, and if the cause 
of the trouble is another Hume-Frazer, it is their owm 
blooming business, and no other personas. Most ex- 
traordinary old chap. Have you met him?” 

^‘No. Indeed, I am only just beginning to hear the 
correct details of the story.” 

Hume winced,, but passed no remark. 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 6^ 

t ^ , 

^ Well, my information came througH an anonymous 

“You don't say so! How interesting! Have you 

•H brought it with me, for a reason other than that 
: which actuates me now, I must confess.’^ 

He produced a small envelope, frayed at the edges, 
I and closely compressed. It bore the type-written ad- 
dress, Police Office, Scotland Yard,” and the postal 
stamp was ‘^West Strand, January 18, 9 p. m.” 

Within, a small slip of paper, also typed, gave this 
message— 

^^About Stowmarket. David Hume Frazer killed 
cousin. Cousin talked girl in road. Girl waited wood, 
David Hume Frazer met girl in wood after 1 a. 

Brett jumped up in instant excitement. He placed 
the two documents on a table near the window, where 
the afternoon sun fell directly on them. 

‘^Written by the murderer!” he cried. '^^The result 
of perusing the evening papers containing a report 
of the first proceedings before the magistrates 1 The 
production of an illiterate man, who knew neither the 
use of a hyphen nor the correct word to describe 
the avenue! Not wholly exact either, if your story 
be true.” 

*^My story is true. Helen Herself will tell it to you 
word for word.” 

"‘This is most Important Look at that broken small 
and the bent capital The letter *'a,' too, is out 
of gear, and does not register accurately. Do you note 
the irregular spacing in ‘market, Frazer, talked'? You 
got that letter, Winter, and yet you did not test every 
Remington type-writer in London !” 

. “Oh, of course it's my fault!” 

= Mr. Winter's coup had fallen on himself, and 
knew it. 

“Oh, Winter! Winter! Come to me twice a \vce!c 

' 


68 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


from six to seven, Tuesdays and Friday^, and I will 
give you a night-school training. Now I wonder if 
that type-writer has been repaired?’^ 

The detective had seldom seen Brett so thoroughly 
roused. His eyes were brilliant, his nose dilated as if 
he could smell the very scent of the anonymous scribe. 

''‘An illiterate man,” he repeated, ^^in evening dressy 
the same height and appearance as Hume ; in a village 
like Sleagill on a New Year’s Eve; four miles from 
everywhere. Was ever clue so simple provided by a' 
careless scoundrel ! And eighteen months have elapsed. 
This is positively maddening!” 

‘‘Look here, old chap,” said Hume, still smarting 
under the recollections of Brett’s caustic utterance, 
^^say you forgive me for keeping that thing back. 
There is nothing else, believe me. It was for Helen’s 
sake.” 

‘‘Rubbish!” cried the barrister. ^^The only wonder 
is that you are not long since assimilated in quick-lime 
in a prison grave. You are all cracked, I think; 
living spooks, human March hares. As for you, Win- 
ter, I ^Yeep for you.” 

He strode rapidly to and fro along the length of 
the room, smoking prodigiously, with frowning brows 
and concentrated eyes. The others did not speak, but 
Winter treated Hume to an informing wink, as one 
might say — 

^‘Now you will hear something.” f 



"[A JAPANESE REVENGE 69 


CHAPTER IX, 

^HE KO-KATANA. 

Thinking aloud, rather than addressing his com- 
panions, Brett began again — • 

‘‘The man must have had some place in which to 
change his clothes, for he would not court attention 
by walking about in evening dress by broad daylight. 
He met and spoke with Alan Hume-Frazer that after- 
noon. The result was unsatisfactory. The stranger 
resolved to visit him again at night — the night of . the 
ball. In a country village on such an occasion, a 
swallow-tailed coat was a passe-partout y as many 
gentry had come in from the surrounding district/’ 
j “Yes, that is so,” broke in Flume. 

Brett momentarily looked through him, and the 
detective shook his head to deprecate any further in- 
terruption. 

“He could not enter Mrs. Eastham’s house, for there 
feverybody knew everybody else. He could not enter 
/the library of the Hall, because the footman was on 
duty for several hours. Is not that so?” 

I He seemed to bite both men with the question, 
a “Yes,” they answered. 

1, “Then he was compelled to hang about the avenue, 
j watching his opportunity — his opportunity for what ? 
I Not to commit a murder! He was unarmed, or, at 
any rate, his implement was a haphazard choice, se- 
lected on the spur of the moment. He saw David 
Hume leave tlie dance and watched his brief talk with 
the butler. He correctly interpreted Hume’s prep- 
arations to await his cousin’s arrival. Did Flume's 
sleepiness suggest the crime, and its probable explanu- 


70 A JAPANESE jREVENGE 

tion? Perhaps. I cannot determine that p^int now'. 
^Assuredly it gave the opportunity to commit a theft. 
Something was stolen from the secretaire. A bold ras- 
cal to force a drawer whilst another man was in the 
room ! Did he fear the consequences if he were f 
caught? I think not. He succeeded in his object, and ' 
went off, but before he reached the gates he saw Miss 
Layton, whom he did not know, talking to the baronet, j 
He secreted himself until the baronet entered the park 
alone. For some reason, he made his presence known, 
and walked with Sir Alan to the lawn outside the 
window, still retaining in his hand the small knife 
used to pry open the lock. There was a short and 
vehement dispute. Possibly the baronet guessed the 
object of this unexpected appearance. There ma}^ 
have been a struggle. Then the knife was sent home, 
with such singular skill that the victim fell without 
a word, a groan, to arouse attention. The murderer 
made off down the avenue, but he was far too cold- 
blooded to run away and encounter unforeseen dan- 
gers. No ; he waited among the trees to ascertain what 
would happen when his victim was discovered, and 
frame his plans accordingly. It was then that he saw 
Helen Layton and David Hume. As soon as the news 
of the murder spread abroad the dance broke up. 
Amidst the wondering crowd, slowly dispersing in 
their carriages, .he could easily slip away unseen, for 
the police, of course, were sure that David Hume 
killed his cousin. Don't you see, Winter 

The inspector did not see. 

^*You are making up a fine tale, Mr. Brett, he said 
doggedly, ^^but Fm blessed if I can follow your reason- 
ing.'' 

i ^‘No, of course not. Eighteen months of settled 

• conviction are not to be dispelled in an instant. But 
accept my theory. This man, the guilty man, must 
have resided in Stowmarket for some hours, if not 
days. Many people saw him. He could not live in 
Sleagill, where even the village dogs would susgr^t 


A JAPANESE J^EVENGE 71 

him. But the addle-headed police, ready to handcuiS 
David Hume, never thought of inquiring about stran- 
1 gers. who came and went at Stowmarket in those days. 
I Stowmarket is a metropolis, a wilderness of changeful 
i {beings, to a country policeman. It has a market-day, 
occasional drunken man — ^life is a whirl in Stow- 
: ^market. Fortunately, people have meruories. At that 
? time you did not wear a beard, Hume ?” 

^^No,” was the reply, though I never told you 
that.” 

^^Of course you told me, many times. Did not 
your acquaintances fail to recognize you? Had not 
Mrs. Capella to look twice at you before she knew 
3 ^ou? Now, Winter, start out. Ascertain, in each 
hotel in town, if they had any strange guests about 
the period of the murder, Thejre is a remote chance 
that you may learn something. Describe Mr. Hume 
without a beard and hint at a rew^ard if information 
is forthcoming. Money quickens the agricultural in- 
tellect.” 

The detective, doubting much, obeyed. Hume, ask- 
ing if there was any reason \yhy he should not drive 
back to Sleagill for an hour before dinner, was sar- 
castically advised to go a good deal farther. Indeed, 
the sight of that tiny typewritten slip had stirred Brett 
to volcanic activity. 

He tramped backwards and forwards, enveloped 
in smoke. Once he halted and tore at the bell, 
f A waiter came. 

I to my room, No. 11, and bring me a leather 

.c' dressing-case, marked dR. B.^ Run! I give you twenty 
seconds. After that you lose sixpence a second out of 
your tip.” 

He pulled out his watch. The man dashed along the 
corridor, much to the amazement of a passing chamber- 
maid. He returned, bearing the bag in triumph. 

^^Seventeen seconds! By the law of equity yoix are 
entitled to eighteenpence.” 

Brett produced the money and led the gasping 


72 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


waiter out of the room, promptly shutting the door oti 
him. 

a rum gentleman that/^ said the waiter to 

the girl 

must be, to make you hurry in such fashion. 
Why, you wouldn't have gone faster for a free pint.’’ 

consider that an impertinent observation.” With 
tilted nose the man turned and cannoned against 
Hume. 

^'^Here!” cried the latter. ‘^^Run to the stables and 
get me a horse and trap. If they are ready in two 
minutes I'll give you two shillings !” 

'^Talk about makin' money!” gasped the waiter, as 
he flew downstairs, ^^this is coinin'. But, by gum, they 
ere in a hurry.” 

Brett unlocked his bag and took from it the book 
of newspaper cuttings. 

Ah 1” he said, after a rapid glance at his conclud- 
ing notes. thought so. Here is what I wrote 
when the aifair was fresh in my mind — 

‘Why were no inquiries made at Stowmarket to 
learn what, if any, strangers were in the town on New 
Year's Eve? ^ 

‘Most minute investigations should be pursued 
with reference to Margaret Hume-Frazer's friends and 
associates. 

‘Has Ferguson ever been asked if his master re- 
ceived any visitors on the day of the murder or during | 
the preceding week? If so, who were they? i 

‘What is the precise purpose of the knife attached 
to the Japanese sword? It appears to be too small to 
be used as a dagger. In any case, the sword scabbard 
would be an unsuitable place to carry an auxiliary ^ 
weapon, to European ideas.' ? 

^^Now, I wonder if Ferguson is still at the Hall? 
The other matters must wait.” 

Winter returned about the same time as Hume. 
Brett and the latter dressed for dinner, and the adroit 
detective, not to be beaten, borrowed a dress-suit from. 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 73 ; 

the landlord, after telegraphing to London for his 
own clothes. 

During the progress of the meal the little party 
. scrupulously refrained from discussing business, an 
I Excellent habit always insisted on by Brett. 

I They had reached the stage of coif ee and cigars 
I when a waiter entered, and whispered something to 
^the police officer. 

m ‘Rabbit Jack’ is here,” exclaimed Winter. 

^ Capital! Tell him to wait.” 
i [When the servant had left, Brett detailed his pro- 
posed test. He and Hume would go into the hotel 
garden, after donning overcoats and deer-stalker hats, 
for Hume told him that both his cousin and he himself 
had worn that style of headgear. 

They would stand, with their faces hidden, beneath 
the trees, and Winter was to bring the poacher towards 
them, after asking him to pick out the man who most 
resembled the person he had seen standing in the 
avenue at Beechcroft. 

: The test was most successful. ^‘Rabbit Jack” in- 
stantly selected Hume. ‘Ht’s either the chap hisself 
or his dead spit,” was the poacher’s dictum. 

. Then he was cautioned to keep his own counsel as 
to the incident, and he went away to get gloriously 
drunk on half-a-sovereign. 

I' In the seclusion of the sitting-room. Winter related 
\ the outcome of his inquiries. They were negative, 
i ^Landlords and barmaids remembered a few com- 
\ mercial travelers by referring to old lodgers, but they 
I one and all united in the opinion that New Year’s Eve 
I was a most unlikely time for the hotels to contain 
i casual visitors. 

\ was afraid it would be a wildgoose chase from 
the start,” opined Winter. 

^^Obviously,” replied Brett; ^^yet ten minutes ago 
you produced a man who actually watched the mur- 
derer for a considerable time that night.” 

Whilst Winter was searching his wits for a suitable 


74 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


argument, tlie barrister continued— Where is Fer- 
guson now ?” 

can answer that,” exclaimed Hume* ‘‘He is my 
father’s butler. When Capella came to Beechcroft, 
the old man wTote and said he could not take orders | 
from an Italian. It was like receiving instructions | 
from a French cook. So my father brought him to f 
<jlen Tochan.” I 

“Then your father must send him to London. He| 
may be very useful. I understand he was many yeara 
at Beechcroft?” 

“Forty-six, man and boy, as he puts it.” 

“Write tomorrow and bring him to town. He can 
stay at your hotel. I will not keep him long; just one 
conversation — no more. Can you tell me anything 
else about that sword?” 

“I fear not. Admiral Cunningham ” 

“I guess I’m the authority there,” broke in Winter. 
“T got. to know all about it from Mr. Okasaki.” 

“And who, pray, is Mr. Okasaki?” 

“A Japanese gentleman, who came to Ipswich to 
hear the first trial. He was interested in the case, 
owing to the curious fact that a murder in a little 
English village should be committed with such a 
weapon, so he came down to listen to the evidence. 
And, by the way, he took a barmaid back with him. 
There was rather a sensation.” 

“The Japs are very enterprising. What did he tell» 
you about -the sword?” i 

The detective produced a note-book. # 

“It is all here,” he said, turning over 'che 
“A Japanese Samurai, or gentleman, in former days| 
carried two swords, one long blade for use against i 
his enemies, and a shorter one for committing suicide ' 
if he was beaten or disgraced. The sword Mr. Hume 
gave his cousin was. a short one, and the knife which 
accompanied it was called the Ko-Katana, or little 
sword. As well as I could understand Mr. Okasaki, a 
Jap uses this as. a penknife, and also as a queer sort 


A iAPANESE REVENGE 7S 

of visiting card. If he slays an enemy he sticks the 
tKoKatana between the other fellow's ribs, or into his 
car, and leaves it there.’^ 

" would like to see this Ko-Katana. Where is it?'^ 
the Black Museum at Scotland Yard. I will 
take you there.^^ j 

i ‘'^Thank you. By the way, concerning this man, 
;^Okasaki-. Supposing we should want any further in- 
I formation from him on this curious topic, can you 
' find him? You say he indulged in some liaison with 
an Ipswich girl, so I assume he has not gone back to . 
Japan/^ 

‘^The last I heard of him was at that time. Some , 
one told me that he was an independent gentleman/ 
noted for his artistic tastes. The disappearance of the 
girl created a rare old row in Ipswich.” ‘-I 

^^Make a note of him. We may need his skilled 
assistance. Was there any special design on the Ko- 
Katana ?” 

was ornamented in some way, but I forget the 
pattern.” 

can help you in that matter,” said Hume. re- 
member perfectly that the handle, of polished gun- 
metal, bore a beautiful embossed design in gold and 
siU^er of a setting sun surmounted by clouds and two 
birds.” 1 

Correct, Mr. Hume, I recall it now,” said the de-i 
tective. ‘^The same thing appears on the handle of; 
: the sword.” 1 

Brett ruminated silently on this fresh information. 

< 'Like the other pieces in the puzzle, it seemed to have 
no sort of connection with the cause of the crime. 

’• ^’Why do you say ^setting sun'? How does one 
distinguish it from the rising sun in embossed or in- 
laid work?” he asked. 

do not know. I only repeat Alan's remark. T 
gave the beastly thing to him because he became 
interested in Japanese arms during his Eastern tour, 
jou will recollect.” 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


VO 


^^Ah, well. That is a nice point for Mr. Okasaki to 
'^settle if we chance to come across him. DonH forget 
^Winter, I want to see that Ko-Katana.” 

A waiter knocked and entered. He handed a letter 
4o Hume. I 

, ^‘From Nellie/’ said David, hastily. I 

He opened the envelope and perused a short note,.| 
which he gave to Brett. It ran : I 

^^Dearest : I 

! have just heard from Jane our under-housemaid/^ 
that Mr. Capella is leaving the Hall for London by an 
early train tomorrow. Jane walks out with Mr. Ca- 
pella's valet, and is in tears. Tell Mr. Brett. I am 
going to help Mrs. Eastham to select prize books for 
■^he school treat tomorrow at eleven. 

^^With love, yours, Nellie.” 

! ^^Who brought this note?” inquired Hume from the 
Waiter as he picked up pen and paper. 

' ^‘A man from Sleagill, sir. Any reply?” 
i Certainly. Tell him to wait in the taproom at my 
expense.” He commenced to write. 

^^Any message?” he asked Brett. 

/ ‘^Yes. Give Miss Layton my compliments, and say 
I regret to hear that Jane is in tears. Ask her — Miss 
Layton — to get Jane to find out what train his master 
Will travel by.” f 

<^Why?” I 

. Because I will go by an earlier one, if possible/’ I 
; ^‘But what about me? Confound it, I promised — | 
“To meet Miss Layton at eleven. Do so, my dear j 
bellow. But come to town tomorrow evening. Winter | 
and I may want you.” 

So the detective sent another telegram to detain that 
dress suit, and Hume seemed to have quickly con- 
quered his disinclination to visit Stowmarket. 


'A JAPANESE REVENG5 


791 . 


I CHAPTER X. 

THE BLACK MUSEUM. 

Winter, wlio had never seen Capella, was so well) 
posted by Brett as to his personal appearance that he 
experienced no difficulty in picking out the Italiani 
when he alighted from the train at Liverpool Streel 
Station next morning. , 

Capella did not conduct himself like a furtive villain*, 
He jumped into a hansom. His valet followed in a 
four-wheeler with the luggage. In each instance th^ 
address given to the driver was that of a well-knownf 
.W^st End hotel. / 

The detective's cab kept pace with Capella’s througlJ 
Old Broad Street, Queen Victoria Street, and along 
the Embankment. At the Mansion Plouse, and againsi 
Blackfriars, they halted side by side, and Winter no- 
ticed that his quarry was looking into space with sul- 
len, vindictive eyes. ^^He means mischief to some-' 
body,’’ was Winter’s summing up. wonder if h^, 

^ intends to knife Hume?” for Brett had given his pro- 
i fessional confrh'e a synopsis of all that happened/ 
^ before they met, and of his subsequent conversation 
^ with the happy couple” in Beechcroft Hall, • 

I He repeated this remark to the barrister when Hei 
I reached Brett’s chambers. 

I Capella will do nothing so crude,” was the com-? 
ment. ^^He is no fool. I do not credit him with the 
murder of Sir Alan, but if I am mistaken in this 
respect, it is impossible to suppose that he can drean| 
of clearing his path again by the same drastic methodj 
Of course he means mischief, but he will stab reputat 
tions, not individuals.” 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 



b When will you come to the Black Museum ?’” 

^ once, if you like. But before we set out I 
^ant to discuss Mr. Okasaki with you. What sort 
pf person is he?’^ 

h genuine Jap, small, lively, and oval-faced. His 
eyes are like tiny slits in a. water melon, and when he 
laughs his grin goes back to his ears.”’ 

‘^Really, Winter, I did not credit you with such a 
Sund of picturesque imagery. Would you know him 

can’t be certain. All Japs are very much alike, 
to- my thinking, but if I heard him talk I would be 
almost sure. Why do you ask ?” 

• ** Because I have been looking up a little information 

with reference to the Ko-Katana and its uses. Now, 
Okasaki is the name of a Japanese town. Family 
: names almost invariably have a topographical founda- 
tion, referring to some village, river, street or moun- 
tain, and there may be thousands of Okasakis. Then, 
again it was the custom some years ago for a man to 
be called one name at birth, another when he came 
of age, a third when he obtained some official position, 
and so on. For instance, you would be called Spring 
when you were born, Summer when you were twenty- 
one, Autumn when you became a policeman, and 
■ Winter when you reached your present rank.” 
i Mr. Winter assimilated the foregoing information 
; with a profound thankfulness that we do these things 
differently. 

^^Why are yo\x so interested in Mr. Okasaki?” he 
inquired. 

^ will answer ygur question by another* Why was 
hit so interested in the Ko-Katana?” ' 

i That is hardly what I told 5'OU, Mr. Brett. He 
professed to be interested in the crime itself. But 
[ncxw I come to think of it, he did ask me to let him 
; see the thing.” 

And did your” 

I ^"Yes", I wanted all the information I could 


5. JAPANESE REVENGE 


79 


position exactly. Let us go to Scotlalid Yard.*^ 

The famous Black Museum has so often been the 
subject of articles in the public press that no detai^ji 
description is needed here. It contains, in glass cases, 
or hanging on the walls, a weird collection of articles 
famous in the annals of crime. It is not open to the 
public, and Brett, v/ho had not seen the place before, 
examined its relics with much curiosity, 
i The detective exhibited a pardonable pride in some 
of tliem, but his companion damped his enthttsiasm by 
saying — • 

‘^This is a depressing sight.^^ 

In what way 

^‘British rogues are evidently of low intelligence in 
the average. A bludgeon and a halter make up theii" 
history/^ 

^‘Well, here is the Ko-Katana,” said Winter shortly. 

The barrister took the fateful weapon, not more 
deadly than a paper-knife in appearance, and scru- 
tinized it closely. 

^^It has not been cleaned,’’ he said. 

^^No, it was left untouched after the doctor with- 
drew it from the poor young fellow's breast.” 

Brett produced a magnifying glass. Beneath tlie 
rust on the blade he thought he could distinguish some 
Japanese characters in tlie quaint pictorial script 
adapted by that singular people from the Chinese 
^ system of writing. 

i He brought the knife nearer to the window and 
carefully focussed it. Then he produced a note-book 
and made a pencil drawing of the following inscrip- 



60 


A JArANESE REVENGE 


, 'Winter watched him with quiet agony. He had 
never noticed the signs before. 

“Mr. Okasaki did not tell you what these scratches, 
meant?” inquired the barrister. 

“No, he did not see them.” 

“Sure?” 

“Quite positive. Of course, it is very smart on your 
part to hit upon them so quickly, but what possible 
purpose can it serve to find out the meaning of some- 
thing carved in Japan more than fifty years ago, at 
the very least ?” ^ t j • 

“I do not know. It is very stupid of me, I admit, 
but I have not the faintest notion.” 

“Does it make the finding of Okasaki more impor- 
tant?” . 1 • 

“To a certain extent. We want to have everything 
explained. At present we have so little of what I 
regard as really definite evidence.” 

“May I ask what that little is?” 

“Sir Alan Hume-Frazer was murdered with a knife 
produced by a man like David Hume, whom 'Rabbit 
Jack’ saw standing beneath the yews. Not much, eh ?”^ 
Winter shook his head dubiously. 

“If Sir Alan were shot instead of stabbed,” went 
on the barrister, “the first thing you would endeavor 
to determine would be the calibre and nature of the 
bullet. Why not be equally particular about the 

knife?” , rr • m 

“But this weapon has been for fifty years in Ulen ' 

Tochan. Its history is thoroughly established.” 

“Is it? Who made it? Whose crest does it bear??. 
What does this motto signify? If you wanted to kill 
a man would you use this toy? Why was not the 
sword itself employed?” _ 

“That string of questions leaves me out, Mr. Brett. 

“I am equally uninformed. I can only answer thes 
last one. The swofd is intended for suicidal pur- 
p' ses, the Ko-Katana for an enemy. This is a case 
Wf murder, not suicide.” 

t ^ 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


81 


•The detective wheeled sharply on his heels, thereb55 
upsetting Charles Peace’s telescopic ladder, 

‘^You suspect Okasaki!’’ he cried. ^ 

‘‘My dear fellow ! Okasaki, is, say, five feet nothing, 
jThe murderer is five feet ten inches in height. Jap- 
: anese are clever people, but they are not telescopes/’ 

' and he picked up the ladder. ’ 

I Winter grinned. “You always make capital out of 
j my blunders,’’ he said. f 

^ “Pooh ! My banking account is limited. Let us go. 
The moral atmosphere in this room is vile.” 

Outside the Central Police Office they separated, 
Brett to pay some long-neglected calls, Winter to hunt 
up Capella’s movements and initiate inquiries about 
Okasaki. ( 

The detective came to Brett’s chambers at five 
o’clock in a great state of excitement. ' 

“Thank goodness you are at home, sir,” he cried, 
when Smith admitted him. “Capella is off to Naples/’ 
Naples, the scene of his marriage! What did thi^ 
journey portend? Naught but the gravest considera-* 
tions would take him so far away from home when he 
knew that David and Helen were reunited. I 

“How did you discover this fact?” asked Bretfj' 
awaking out of a brown study. ^ 

“Easily enough, as it happened. Ninety-nine per 
cent, of gentlemen’s valets are keen sports. Barbers 
and hotel-porters run them close. I do a bit that way 

, myself ” 

1 The barrister groaned. 

“Not often, sir, but this is holiday time, you see, 
[Anyhow, I gave the hall-porter, whom I know, the' 
•wink to come to a neighboring bar during his time off 
for tea. He actually brought Capella’s man — William 
his name is — with him. I told them I had backed the 
first winner today, an eight to one chance, and that 
started them. I offered to put them on a certainty 
next week, and William’s face fell. ‘It’s a beastly 
• nuisance,’ he said, T’m off to Naples with my boss 


82 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


t 0 nK)rrow/ /Well/ said I, youVe not gmng before 
the night train, perhaps I may be able — ’ but that made 
him’ worse, because they leave by the 11 a. 

Brett began to pace the room. He could not make 
up h?s mind to visit Naples in person. For one thin^ 
he did not speak Italian. But Capella must be fol- 
lowed. At last he decided upon a course of action. 

Winter/^ he said, you know a man we caa 
trust, an Italian, or better still, an Italian-speaking 
Englishman, who can undertake this commission for 
us 


f 


^^Would you mind ringing for Smith, sir?’’ replied 
the detective, who seemed to be mightily pleased wdth 
himself. 

Smith appeared. 

^ At the foot of the stairs you will find a gentleman 
named Holden,” said Winter. ^^A^sk him to come up, 
please.” 

Holden appeared, a sallow personage, long-nosed 
and shrewd looking. The detective explained that Mr. 
Holden was an ex-police sergeant, retained for many 
years at headquarters on account of his fluency in the^ 
language of Tasso. Winter did not mention Tasso. 
This is figurative. 

An arrangement was quickly made. He was to 
start that evening and meet Capella on arrival at 
Naples. Winter would telegraph the fact of the Ital- 
ian's departure according to programme. Holden was 
not to spare expense in employing local assistance if 
necessary. He was to report everything he could learn 
about Capella's movements. 

Brett wanted to hand him iSO, but found that all 
; the money he had in his possession at the moment only 
totaled up to £ 35 . 

Winter produced a small bag, 

^Tt was quite true what I said,” fie' smirked, 
yid back the first winner, and what’s more, I drew It 
•—sixteen of the best.” 

r had no idea the police force was so corrupt.’^ 


... 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


8a 


Sjghcd Brett, as he completed the financial transaction, 
and Mr. Holden took his departure. The detecti^vc 
also went oft in search of Okasaki. 

About nine o’clock Hume arrived. 

You will be glad to hear,’’ he said, ^^that the rector 
invited me to lunch. He approves of my project;, and 

f wili pray for my success. It has been a most pleasant 
day I can assure you.’’ 

' *^The rector retired to his study immediately after 
lunch, I presume ?’’ 

‘‘Yea,” said David innocently. ^‘Has anything im- 
portant occurred in town ?” 

Brett gave him a rhtime of events. A chance al- 
lusion to Sir Alan caused the young man to exclaim : 

^‘By the way, you have never seen his photograph. 
He and I were very much alike, you know, and I have 
brought from my rooms a few pictures which may in- 
terest you.” 

He handed to Brett photographs of himself and his 
two cousins, and, of the older Sir Alan and Lady 
Hume-Frazer, taken singly and in groups. 

The barrister examined them minutely. 

*L^lan and I,” pointed out his client, ^^were photo- 
graphed: during our last visit to London. Poor chap ! 
He never saw this picture. The proofs were not sent 
until after his death.” 

Something seemed to puzzle Brett considerably. He 
i. compared the pictures one with the other, and paid 
||heed to every detail. 

^^Let me understand,” Brett said at last. think 
have it in my notes that at the time of the murder 
you were twenty-seven. Sir Alan twenty-four and 
Mrs. Capella twenty-six?” 

^^That is so, approximately. We were born respec- 
tively in January, October and December. My twenty- 
seventh birthday fell on the 11th.” 

‘^Stated exactly, you were two years and nine 
months older than he?” 

''Yes.” ' 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


S4 

'^You don’t look it.^^ 

never did. We were always about the same size 
as boys, but he matured at an earlier age than L” 

^^It is odd. How old were you when this group wa? 
taken ^ 

The photograph depicted a family gathering on the M 
lawn at Beechcroft. There were eight persons, three p: 
being elderly men. 

David reflected. ^ 

^‘That was before I left Harrow, and Christmas 
time. Seventeen almost, within a couple of weeks.” 

'*So your cousin Margaret was sixteen?” 

"‘Yes.” 

“She was remarkably tall, well-developed for her 
age.” 

“That was a notable characteristic from an early 
age. We boys used to call her ‘Mama,’ when we 
wanted to vex her.” 

“The three old gentlemen are very much alike. This 
is the baronet. Who are the others ?” 

“My father and uncle.” 

“What! Do you mean to tell me there is another 
branch of the family?” 

“Well, yes, in a sense. My uncle is dead. His son, 
my age or a little older, for the youngest of the three 
brothers was married first, was last heard of in Ar- 
gentina.” P 

‘‘Good heavens!” Brett cried. “When shall I begin 
to comprehend this business in its entirety? How 
many more uncles, and aunts, and cousins have you ?” 

Amazed by this outburst, Hume endeavored to put 
matters right. 

“I never thought — ” he commenced. 

“You come to me to do the thinking, Hume. For 

? ‘oodness’ sake, switch your memory for five minutes 
rom Miss Layton, and tell me all you know of your 
family history Have you any other relations?” 

“None whatever.” 

“And this newly-arrived cousin, what of him?” 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 8^ 

was in the navy, and being of a quarrelsome 
disposition, was court-martialed for some small out- 
break. He would not submit to discipline and resigned 
the service. Then his father died, and Bob went off to 
South America. I have never heard of him since. 
I know very little about my younger uncle's house- 
hold. Indeed, the occasion recorded by the photograph 
was the last time the old men met in friendship. There 
was a dispute about money matters. My Uncle 
. Charles was in the city, the two estates being left by 
my grandfather to the two oldest sons. Charles 
, Hume-Frazer died a poor man, having lost his fortune 
by speculation.’^ 

"Have you ever seen your cousin Robert? Did he 
. resemble Alan and you ?” 

f "We were all as like as peas. You could not have 
been in the dining-room or picture gallery at Beech- 
croft, or you must have noticed this instantly.” 

Brett flung himself into a chair. 

"The Argentine!” he muttered. "A nice school for 
a ‘quarrelsome' Hume-Frazer.” 

He had calmed sufficiently to reach for his cigarette- 
case when Smith entered with a note, delivered by a 
boy messenger, 
r It was from Winter. 

"Have found Okasaki. His name is now Numa- 
gawa Jiro, so you were right, as usual. He and Mrs. 
Jiro live at IZ St. John's Mansions, Kensington.” 

ir 


■A JAPANESE KEVEN^E 


CHAPTER xr. 

HR. ^^OKASAKl/' 

In fifteen minutes Brett was bowling along Knights-* 
bridge in a hansom, having left Hume with a strict 
injunction to rack his brains for any further undis- 
covered facts bearing upon the inquiry, and turn up 
promptly at ten o’clock next morning. 

Although the hour was late for calling upon a com- 
plete stranger, the barrister could not rest until he had 
inspected the Jiro menage. No. 17 was a long way 
from the ground level. Indeed, the cats of Kensing- 
ton, if sufficiently enterprising, inhabited the floor 
above. 

He rang, and was surveyed with astonishment by a 
very small maid-servant. 

Mr, Numagawa Jiro at home?’^ he inquired. 

^^No sir, but Mrs. Jiro is,^^ 

An infantine wail from one of the apartment# 
showed that there was also a young Jiro. 

The maid neither advanced nor retreated. She sim- 
ply stood stock still, petrified by the sight of a well-| 
dressed visitor. i 

Brett suggested that she should inform Her mistressj 

of his presence. ^ 

Please, sir,” whispered the girl, ^are you from. 

Ipswich ?” I 

‘^No, from Victoria Street,” 

only asked, sir, because master is particular 
about people from Ipswich. They upset missus so.’'' 

She vanished into the interior, and came back to 
usher him into the drawing-room. The flat was ex- 
pensively furnished, but very untidy. He at once per- 


A JAPANESE REVENGE ^ 

ceived, however, that the *4ormer’^ Mn Okasaki was 
BOt romancing when he boasted of his artistic tastes. 
The Japanese articles in the room were gems of faience 
and lacquer work. 

■■f The entrance of Mrs. Jiro drew the barrister’s eyes 
jjirom surrounding objects. He was momentarily 
iltunned. The woman was almost a giantess, and 
I amazingly stout. In a tiny flat, waited on by a diminu- 
ftive servant, and married to a Japanese, she was gro- 
^tesque. 

Originally a very tall and fairly goGd4ooking girl, 
.^he had evidently blossomed out like one of the gor- 
geous chrysanthemums of her husband's favored land. 

Assuredly she had acquired no Japanese traits> either 
■in manner or appearance. At first she seemed to be 
in a genuinely British bad temper, but Brett excelled 
in the art of smoothing the ruffled plumes of femi- 
ninity, 

^^What is it?” she demanded, surveying him suspi- 
ciously, 

wish to see Mr. Jiro,” he said, but permit me 
-to apologize, for making such an untimely call. As he 
is not at home, Tmust not trouble you beyond inquir- 
ing a likely hour to see him tomorrow.” 

is coming now,” she announced ; and Mr. Jiro 
entered. 

It was fortunate that the gravity of his errand, no 
less than his power of self-control, kept Brett from 
•laughing. As it was, he smiled very broadly when he 
greeted the master of the flat, for the little man was; 
small even for a Japanese. 

J The contrast between him and his helpmate was 
^ ludicrous. He could not possibly kiss her unless she 
stooped, nor would his arms encircle her shoulders. 

^^And how is my pretty karasu?’^ he asked, regard- 
ing his wife fondly. 

^ Don’t call me that, Nummie!” she cried. 

Turning to Brett she explained: ^^He calls me a 
crow, and says it is a compliment, but I don’t like it.” 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


88 

h 

Japan the crow speaks with the voice of love,’^ 
grinned Jiro. 

^^Well, it sounds funny in London, so just attend to 
this gentleman. He 1ms come to see you on business/^ 

V Mrs. Jiro forthwith seated herself to listen to the p 
conclave. Brett though warned by the maid’s remark, ^ 
^ould not help himself, so he went straight to the point.! R 
: *^Over a year ago,’’ he said, ‘^you were in Ipswich.” ^ 
r Instantly a severe chill fell upon his hearers. The 
man shrank, the woman expanded, but before either p 
fcould utter a word, the barrister continued — 

Personally, I know no one in Ipswich. I have only 
visited the town twice, during an Assize week. It has 
come to my knowledge that you gave the police some 
information with reference to a Japanese weapon 
which figured in a noted crime, and I have ventured 
lo come here to ask you for additional details.” 

, Mrs. Jiro heaved a great sigh of relief. 

Brett took from his pocket-book the drawing made 
in the Black Museum and handed it to the Japanese, 
saying — 

Would you mind telling me the meaning of that?” 

Jiro screwed his queer little eyes upon the scrawl- 
ing characters. The methods of writing in the Far 
East, being pictorial and inexact, require scrutiny 
of the context before a given sentence can be cor- 
rectly interpreted. 

The little man made no trouble about it, however. 

■ ^^They are old chalacters,” he said. ^Tn Japan we | 
joke a lot. Evely sign has sevelel meanings. This can ; 
be lead two ways. It is a plovelb, and says, ‘A new - 
field gives a small clop,’ or 'Human life is but fifty ^ 
years.’ Where did you see it?” ^ ' 

‘Hn the blade of the Ko-Katana that killed Sir ' 
Alan Hume-Frazer,” answered Brett. 

And now he experienced a fresh difficulty. The 
Japanese face is exceedingly expressive. When a na- 
tive of the Island Empire smiles or scowls, exhibits 
surprise or fear, he apparently does these things with. 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 89 ! 

' ji 

USs whole soul. Such facial plasticity provides fax: , 
more effective concealment of real emotions than the 
phlegmatic indifference of the Briton, who, in the . 
words of Emerson, requires ^‘pitchforks or the cry 
of 'Fire !’ to arouse him. 

; It is possible to throw an Englishman off his guard 
by a shrewd thrust; but Mr. Numagawa Jiro was one 
of those j)ersons whose lineaments would reveal the 
same amount of pain over a cut finger as a broken leg. 

Nevertheless, Brett’s reply did unquestionably make 
him jump, and even Mrs. Jiro’s bulging features be« 
came anxious. 

‘‘Is that possible?’’ said the Japanese, “It is velly 
stlange the police gentleman did not tell me about it.” 

“He did not know of it until to-day,” explained 
‘Brett, “and that is why I am here now. It is the 
motto of some important Japanese family, is it not?” 

“It is a plovelb,” repeated Jiro, who evidently in- 
tended to take thought. 

“So I understand, but used in this way it repre^ 
sents a family, a clan?” 

“I do not know.” 

“What! A man so interested in his country’s art 
as to go to an out-of-the-way English provincial town 
merely to see a small knife, must surely be able to de- 
dde such a trivial matter as the use of mottoes on 
sword blades!” 

Mr. Jiro’s excellent knowledge of English seemed to 
Jail him, but his wife took up the defense. 

’ “My husband had more to think about in Ipswicii 
than a small knife, Mr. Brett.” 

“Very much more, but it was the knife which 
brought him to the place. He carried the major at- 
traction away with him.” ‘ 

Mrs. Jiro thought this sounded nice. She turned to 
her husband — 

“Why cfon't you tell the gentleman all you know: 
labour it ?” 


90 A JAPANESE REVENGE 

The little man looked at her curiously before he 

spoke. 

T have nothing to he said. told the police 
all that they asked me. That was a velly old Ko- 
•Katana, a hundred yeals old. It was made by a fa- f 
mons altist. I have told you the meaning of the liting. f 
fThat is all I know.^^ ' 

^‘Why did you give your name at Ipswich as Oka- 
saki demanded Brett. • 

"‘Oh, that is velly easy. Okasaki is my family 
name. You English people say it quicker than Num- 
agawa Jiro, so I give it. But when I got mallied I 
used my light name. Japanese law does not pelmit the 
change of names now. My ploper name is Nlima- 
gawa Jiro — which he pronounced ‘‘Jilo.” 

^‘You told the detective at Ipswich that the device 
on the handle represented the setting sun. How did 
you know the sun was setting and not rising 

It was a haphazard shot. The description was 
Hume’s, not Winter’s. * 

Again the Japanese paused before answering. 

"‘It was shown by the way in which the gold was 
used. Japanese altists have symbols for ideas. That 
is one.’’ 

“Thank you. I imagined you recognized the device, 
and could speak off-hand in the matter. By the way, 
do you use a typewriter ?” 

“Yes,” said Mrs. Jiro. “My husband is clever at 
all that sort of tiling, and when he found the people 
could not read his writing he bought a machine.” 

“I have sold it again,” interfered Jiro, after a hasty 
glance round the room, “and I am going to buy an- 
other.” 

Mrs. Jiro rose to stir the fire unnecessarily. 

^‘They are most useful,” said Brett. “Which make 
do you prefer?” 

“They are all vely much alike,” answered the Jap- 
anese, “but I am going to buy a Yost or a Hammond.” 

“I am very much obliged to you for receiving me at 


A JAPAN^iSE REVENGE 


91 ’ 


'this late hour, said the barrister, rising, "but before 
I go allow me to compliment you on your remarkable 
knowledge of English, l am sure you are indebted to 
your good lady for your idiomatic command of the 
language,” 

"I studied it lor yeals in Japan — began Jiro, but 
vain, for his very much better half resented the 
word "idiomatic.” 

"I don’t know about tliat,” she snorted. "He talked 
a lot of nonsense when we were married, but Fve 
made him drop it, and he is teaching me Japanese.” 

"His task is a pleasant one. It is the tongue of 
love.” 

Again there was a pause. A minute later Brett was 
standing in the street trying to determine how best to 
act. 

He was fully persuaded that Jiro had, in the first 
place, identified the crest as belonging to one of the 
many Samurai clans. But the motto was new to him, 
and its discovery had revealed the particular family 
which claimed its use. 

Why did he refuse to impart his knowledge? There 
must be plenty of Japanese in London who would give 
this information readily. 

Again, why did he lie about the typewriter, and en^ 
deavor to mislead him as to the make of the machine 
lie used. 

Tomorrow, for a certainty, Jiro would dispose of 
the Remington which he now possessed. Well, he 
should meet with a ready purchaser, if a letter from 
Brett to every agency in London would expedite mat- 
ters. 

He did not credit Jiro v/ith the death of Sir Ala?*. 
Hume-Frazer, nor even with complicity in the crime. 
The Japanese had acted as the unwitting tool of a 
stronger personality, and the little man’s brain was 
even at this moment considering fresh aspects of tl- :: 
affair not previously within his ken. 

Moreover, how maddening the whole thing was ! 


92 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 

Beginning with Hume’s fantastic dream, he reviewed 
the hitherto unknown elements in the case — ^CapeUa’s 
fierce passion and queer behavior, culminating in a 
sudden journey to Italy, Margaret’s silent agony, the 
existence of an Argentine cousin, the evidence of 
Rabbit Jack,’^ the punning motto on the Ko-Katana, 
Jiro’s perturbation and desire to prevent his wife^s un- 
conscious disclosures. 

With the final item came the ludicrous remembrance 
of that ill-assorted couple. Laughing, Brett haiied a 
liansomf 


A JAPANESE R£V|:NaB 


93 


/ CHAPTER XIL 

( 

.WHAT THE STATION MASTER SAW, 

• fFhc number of typewriter exchanges in London is 
not large. Impressing the services of Smith and his 
wife as amanuenses, Brett despatched the requisite 
letters before retiring. 

He was up betimes and out before breakfast, sur- 
prising the domestics of his club by an early visit to 
the library. The Etona contained a great many serv- 
ice members, and made a feature of its complete edi- 
tions of Army and Navy lists. 

In one, eight years old, Brett found, among the of- 
ficers of the Northumberland, at that time in commis- 
sion, Robert Hume-Frazer, sub-lieutenant.^^ A latei! 
volume recorded his retirement from the service. 

Hume and Winter reached Brett's flat together. 

^^Any luck with the Jap, sir?^^ asked the detective 
cheerily. 

Brett told them what had happened, and Winter? 
sighed. Here indeed, was a promising subject for rA 
; arrest. Why. not lock him up, and seize the type- 
I writer ? But he knew the barrister by this time, and 
[uttered no word. 

^^And now,^^ said Brett, after a malicious pause to 
finable Winter to declare himself, am going back to 
Stowmarket. No, Hume, you are not going with me. 
When does Ferguson arrive here 

The question drove from David’s face the disap- 
pointed look with which he received his friend’s an- 
nouncement 

** Tomorrow evening,” he replied. fathet! 

thinks the old man should not risk an alFniglit jour- 


94 


A ^AJ^ANESE REVENGE 


::cy* He has also sent me every detail he ean get 
together, either from documents or recollection, bear- 
ing upon our family history.^^ 
lie produced a formidable roll of manuscript. The 
old gentleman had evidently devoted many hours and | 
5ome literary skill to the compilation. § 

“I will read that in the train/^ said Brett. ^^You ^ 
must start at once for Portsmouth. I have a list of all 
the officers serving with your cousin Robert on the 
immediately prior to his quitting the 
Navy. Portsmouth, Devonport, Southsea, and the 
neighborhood will almost certainly contain some of 
them. If not, people there will know where they are 
to be found. You must make, yourseif known to them, 
and endeavor to gain any sort of news concerning the 
ex-lieutenant. Naval men roam all over the world. 
Some of them may have met him in the Argentine, 0 ^ 
in any of the South American ports, where British 
warships are constantly calling. He was a sailor. He 
left the Navy under no cloud. Hence, the presence of 
a British man-o -war would draw him like a magnet. 
Do not come back here until you bring news of him.” 
^^Why, is it so important? Yop cannot imagine — ” 
^^No; I .endeavor to restrain my imagination. I 
want facts. You are the best person to obtain them. 
One relative inquiring for another is a natural pro- 
ceeding. It will not arouse suspicions that you are a; 
iebt-collector,” 

Suppose I obtain news of his whereabouts?” 
^‘Telegraph to me, and I will give you fresh instruc- 
tions.” i 

Hume walked to the door. 

“Give my kindest regards to Miss Layton,” he said 
grimly. 

“I will be delighted. Work hard. You will see hen 
the sooner.” 

“ There goes a man in love,” continued Brett, ad- 
dressing the back of Winter’s skull, though looking 
him straight in the face. “His career, his reputation^ 


A JAFAKESE REVENGE 95 

•'I 

everything he values most in this world is at state, 
He is a sensible, level-headed fellow, who has become : 
embittered by unjust suspicion; yet he would will-; 
ingly let a material item like his cousin’s proceedings- 
sink into oblivion just for the sake of telling a girl that | 
she looks more charming to-day than she did yesterday,] 
or some equally original remark peculiar to love-mak- : 
ing. How do you account for it. Winter ?’’ i 

give it up,” sighed the detective* are alt 

fools where women are concerned.” ^ J 

^‘You surprise me,” said the barrister sternly.- 
^^Siich a personal confession of weakness is un^k* 
pected.” 

“You’re not married, Mr. Brett, or you wouldn"t 
talk like that.” 

“Well, let it pass. I want you to make the acquain- 
tance of that loving couple, Mr. and Mrs. Numa- 
gawa Jiro. You must disguise yourself. Jiro is to be 
shadowed constantly. Get any help you require but do 
Be off. Winter, on the wings of the wind. Fasten 
on tc^' Jiro. Batten on him. Become his invisible vam- 
pire. A6<?ve all else, disco’fer his associates.” 

“I must see G]\pella off,” gasped the detective. 

“All the more reason that you should fly.” 

Left to himself, the barrister compiled memoranda 
for an hour or more. He read through what he had 
written. 

“The web is spreading quickly,” he murmured. 
wonder what sort of a % we shall catch! Is he 
buzzing about under our very noses, or will he be am 
unknown variety ? As they say in the Argentine-^ 
Qttien Sube?^^ 

During the journey to Stowmarket he mastered the 
contents of the bulky document sent from Giem 
Tochan. It contained a great many irrelevant details, 
but he made the following notes — 

After the duel in 1763, David Hume, the man who 
avenged with his sword the supposed injury inflicted 
upon his father by the first Sir Alan Hume-Frazer, 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


96 ' 

•escaped to the Netherlands, and was never heard of 
again. 

There was a local tradition on the Scotch estate 
that five Hume-Frazers would meet with violent, 
deaths in England. The reason for this singular belief 
was found in the recorded utterances of an old nurse, 
popularly credited Avith the gift of second sight, who 
prophesied, after the outlawry of the Humes in 1745, 
that there would be five long-lived generations of both 
families, and that five Frazers would die in their boots* 

‘^Curiously enough,” commented the old gentleman 
who supplied this information, ^^Aunt Elspeth’s pre- 
diction is capable of two interpretations, owing to the 
[fact that the first Sir Alan Frazer assumed the ad- 
ditional surname of Hume, I have absolutely no 
knowledge of any distinct branch of the Hume fam- 
ily. David Btume’s sister was married to my ancestor 
at the time of the duel.” 

Admiral Cunningham, the hardy old salt who 
brought from Japan the sword used by a Samurai to 
commit hari-kara, or suicide by disembowelling, com- 
manded the British vessels of the combined squadron 
which sailed up the bay of Yeddo on July 6, 1853, to 
intimidate the Mikado, 

Fie narrowly escaped assassination at the hands of 
a twO“SwC0fd man, who was knocked down by a sailor 
and soundly kicked after being disarmed. 

The Admiral brought home the two weapons taken 
from his assailant, and the larger sword was still to 
be seen in the armory at Glen Tochan. 

The three brothers, of whom the writer alone sur- 
vived, quarreled over money matters about eight years 
before the murder of the fifth baronet. The young- 
est, Charles, had entangled himself in a disastrous 
speculation in the city, and bitterly reproached Alan 
and David, the narrator, because they would not come 
to his assistance. 

Finally, he suspected no one of committing the 
crime itself, which was utterly inexplicable. 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 97i 

At Stowmarket the barrister sought a few minutes^ 
conversation with the station-master, 

“'Have you been long in charge of this station?” lie 
asked, when the official ushered him into a private 
office. 

i Nearly five years, sir,” was the surprised answer. 
; i *^Ah, then you know nearly all the members of thet 
AHume-Frazer family?” 

%. Yes, sir. I think so.” 

h "^‘Do you remember the New Year’s Eve when thej 
young baronet was killed ?” 

*^Yes, generally speaking, I do remember it.” 

I The station-master was evidently doubtful of the 
motives which actuated this cross-examination, and re- 
solved not to commit himself to positive statements. 

’ ^^You recollect of course, that Mr. David Hume- 
Frazer was arrested and tried for the murder of his 
cousin ?” 

^ ''Yes.” 

^ ''Very well. Now I want you to search your mem- 
ory well and tell me if you saw any one belonging to 
the family in the station on that New Year’s Eve. The 
terrible occurrence at Beechcroft must have fixed the 
facts in your mind.” 

' ' The station-master, a cautious man of kindly dispo- 
sition seemed to be troubled by the question. 

"Do you mind if I ask you, sir, why you are seek- 
ing this information?” he inquired after a thought- 
ful pause. 

I ^ "A very proper question. Mr. David Hume-Frazer 
IS a friend of mine, and he has sought my help to clear 
away the mystery attached to his cousin’s death.” 

; "But why do you come to me?” 

"Because you are a very likely person to have some 
knowledge on the point I raised. You see every per- 
• son who enters or leaves Stowmarket by train.” 

"That is true. We railway men see far more than 
people think,” said the official with a smile. "But it 
h very odd that you should be the first gentleman to 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


98 

tliiiik of talking to me in connection witH the affair^ 
ihoiigb I can assure you certain things puzzled me a 
^ood deal at tiic time.^’ 

‘^^And what were they?"’ 

, You are the gentleman who came Here three days 
^ ago with Mr. David, whom, by the way, I hardly rec- 
' ognized at first ^ 

Exactly.’^ 

‘•Well, I suppose it is all right. I did not interfere 
because I could not see my way clear to voluntarily 
give evidence. Of course, were I summoned by the 
police, it would be a different matter. The incidentsj 
of that New Year's Eve bewildered me/’ 

“Indeed I 
‘‘ it was staled at the trial, sir, that Mr. David came : 
ironi Scotland that morning, left Liverpool Street at 
3:20 p, m., and reached Stowmarket at 5:22 p. m/’ 
•^Yes/’ 

''Further, he was admittedly the second person to 
see his cousin's dead body, and remained at the HalK 
until arrested by the police on a warrant.” 

Brett nodded. The station-master^s • statement ■ 
promised to be intensely interesting. ^ 

“Well, sir,” continued the man excitedly, ‘T was j 
mystified enough on New Year's Eve, but after the 
murder came out I thought I was fairly bewitched/^ 
1- hat season is always a busy one for us, what between | 
parcels, passengers, and bad weather. On the morn- 1 
ing of December 31, I fancied I saw Mr. David leave J 
the London train due here at 12:15 midday. I only i 
caught a glimpse of him, because there was a crowd of j 
• people, and he was aH muffled up- I didn't give the 
matter a second thought until I saw him again step out ^ 

\ of a first-class carriage at 2 :20 p. ni. I looked at him ; 
rather sharp that time. He was differently dressed, ; 
and hurried off without any luggage. He left the 
station quickly, so I imagined I had been mistaken a 
couple of hours earlier. Y'ou could have knocked me 
; .4 father when he appeared by the 5:22 


A JAPANESE EEX^ENOe 


99 


p: m. This time he had several leather trunks, and a 
footman from the Hall was waiting for him on the 
platform. Excuse me, sir, but it was a fair licker.” 

; /Ht must have been, I wonder you did not speak 
,to him!’’ 

! wish I had done so* Mr. David is usixally a very 
' affable young gentleman, but, what between my sur~ 
' prise and the bustle of getting the train away, I lost 
the opportunity. However, the queerest part of my 
' story is coming. I’m blest if he didn’t leave here 
again by the last train, at 5 :58 p. m. I missed his 
entrance to the station, but had a good look at him 
as the train went out. He showed the ticket exam- 
iner at ipswdeh a return half to London, because I 
asked by wire. Now what did it all mean?” 

: I could tell you, it would save me much trou- 

ble,” said Brett gravely. -^But why did you not men- 
tion these incidents subsequently?” 

! ^"Perhaps I was wrong, sir. I did not know vhat 
-to do for the best. Everyone at the Hall, incliuHug 
Mr. David himself, would have proved that I was a 
liar with respect to his two earlier arrivals and his 
; depaKure by the 5 :S8. I did not see what I could 
I accomplish except to arouse a strong suspicion that I 
! had been drinking. I must have been very much mis- 
taken, but I did not think so at the time, and it both- 
^ ered me more than enough. If my evidence promised 
to be of any service to Mr. David, nothing would 
, have kept me back. As it was — ” 

\ ^^You thought it would damage him?” 
f ^I’m afraid that was my idea.” 

agree with you. It is far better that it never 
came to the knowdedge of the police. I am greatly 
obliged to you.” 

■^May I ask, sir, if w^haf I have told you will be 
useful ill your inquiry?” 

^*Most decidedly. Some day soon, Mr. David Hntne- 
Erazer will thank you in person. I suppose you have 
mo ejection to placing your observations in written 


i JAPANESE REVENGE 


100 

'ionn for my private use, and sending the statement 
to me at the County Hotel?” 

^^Not in the least, sir; good-day.” 

The barrister walked to the hotel, having dispatched 
his bag by a porter. 

suppose,” he said to himself, ^^that when Win- 
ter came here he rushed straight to the police-sta- 
tion. How his round eyes will budge out of their 
sockets when I tell him what I have just learned.” 


’A JAVANESE KEVESGE 


101 


I 

; CHAPTER XIIL 

■ TWO WOMEN. 

I The surprising information given by the station- 
j master impressed the barrister as so much unexpected 
trover which would assert its value in the progress of 
events. He certainly did not anticipate the discovery 
of three David Humes, though he had hoped to find 
traces of two. i 

Before he reached his hotel he experienced a spasm 
of doubt. Was his client telling the truth about his 
movements on that memorable Christmas Eve ?, 

. David's story was fully corroborated by the railway 
official and the servants at the Hall, whose sworn 
evidence was in Brett’s possession. But how about 
Hume’s counterfeit presentments arriving by the 
earlier trains — coming from where and bound on what 
errands ? ' \ 

He resolutely closed down the trap-door opened by 
his imagination. j 

‘‘The pit does not yawn for me,’^ he communed, 
*‘'but for the man who killed Sir Alan. Assuredly he 
will fall into it before many days. Nothing on earth 
can stop the meeting of two or more of the hidden 
channels now being opened up, and when they do 
meet there must be a dramatic outcome.^’ i, 

His chief purpose in revisiting Stowmarket was to 
seek further confidences from Mrs. Capella. He 
argued that the sudden journey of her husband to 
Naples would cause her much uneasiness, and she 
might now be inclined to reveal circumstances yet 
bidden. 

He refused to take her at a disadvantage. From thd 
hotel he sent a cyclist messenger with a note asking foi/ 


102 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 

an interview, and within an hour he received a cordial 
request to come at once. 

Nevertheless, he was not a little astonished to find 
Helen Layton awaiting him in Margaret's boudoir. 

^^Mrs. Capella sent for me when your note reached 
her, Mr. Brett. She is greatly upset by recent events, 
and was actually on the point of telegraphing to Davie f 
to ask him to bring you here at once when your mes- 
sage was handed to her. She will be here presently. 
Please do not press her too closely to reveal anything 
.she wishes to withhold. She is so emotional and ex- 
cited, poor thing, that I fear her health may be en- 
dangered.” 

Miss Layton’s words were not well chosen. She 
was conscious of the fact, and blushed furiously when 
Brett received her request with a friendly nod of com- 
prehension. 

do not know vrhat to say for the best,” she went 
on desperately. am so sorry for Margaret, and it 
seems to me to be a terrible thing that my proposed 
marriage with her cousin should be the innocent cause 
of all this trouble.” 

I ^‘Is it the cause?” he asked. 

^ ^^What else can it be? Certainly not Mr. Capella’s 
foolish actions. If Davie and I were married, and far 
away froni this neighborhood, we would probably 
never see him again. I assure you I attach no serious . 
significance to his mad fancy for me. The real reason 
for the present bother is Davie’s desire to reopen the 
story of the murder. Of that I am convinced.” ^ 
a ‘^Then what do you wish me to do?” ; 

f Helen’s eyes became suspiciously moist 

‘^How am I to decide ?” she said tremulously. ^^Nat- 
urally, I want the name of my future husband to be 
cleared of the odium attached to it, but it is hard that 
this amnot be done without driving a deaf woman like 
Margaret to despair.” 

do not why the one course should ttindvt 


\ JAPANESE REVENGE 103 | 

I 

^^Nor do I ; but the fact remains. Mr. Capella s de- 1 
cision to go to Naples is somehow bound up with it, ! 
Oh, dear; during the last two years a dozen or more 
girls have been happily married in this village with- 
out any one being killed, or running away, or dying 
of grief. Why should those things descend upon my 
poor little head 

Perhaps you are mistaken. Events have conspired 
to point to you as the unconscious source of a good 
deal that has happened. Personally, Miss Layton, I 
incline to the belief that you are no more responsible 
than David Hume^Frazer. If the mystery of Sii^ 
Alan’s death is ever solved, I feel assured that its 
genesis will be found in circumstances not only beyond 
your control, but wholly independent, and likely to 
operate in the sanie way if both you and your Hand 
had never either seen or heard of Beechcroft Hall.’’ 

^‘Oh, Mr. Brett,” she cried impulsively, wish S 
could be certain of that!” 

^^Try and adopt my opinion,” he answered with 
smile, for the girl’s dubiety was not very flattering. 

know I am saying the wrong thing. I cannot 
help it. Margaret’s distress tried me sorely. Be gentle 
with her — that is all I ask.” 

The door opened, and Mrs. Capella entered. 
Helen’s observations had prepared Brett to some ex- 
tent, yet he was shocked to see the havoc wrought in 
Margaret’s appearance by days of suffering and nights 
of sleepless agony. 

Helen ran to her side, and took her in a loving clasp.; 

I ‘‘Poor darling!” she cried. “Why are you suffer- 
^ngso?” 

The tears of these two, set his teeth on edge. What 
were they whining about— the affections of a doll of a 
man whose antics had been rightly treated by David 
when he proved to Capella that there is nothing like 
leather. 

For the barrister labored under no delusions re- 
specting either woman. Margaret, who secretly 


104 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


her husband, was only pining for his rekindled admira- 
tion, whilst Helen, though true as steel to David 
Hume, could not be expected to regard the Italian’s 
misplaced passion as utterly outrageous. 

Brett regarded Capella as an impressionable scamp, 
endowed with a too vivid imagination, and he deter- 
mined forthwith to stir his hearers into revolt, defiance 
“—anything but languishing regret and condolence. 

Margaret soon gave him an opportunity. Recover- 
ing her self-possession with an effort, she said- — 

am glad you are here, Mr. Brett. Helen has 
probably told you that we need your presence — ^not 
that I have much to say to you, but I must have the 
advice of a wiser and clearer head than my own in 
the present position of affairs.” 

Exactly so,” replied the barrister cheerily. a 

preliminary to a pleasant chat, may I suggest a cup of 
tea?” 

Whatever the failings of Beechcroft might be, they 
had not reached the kitchen. Delightful little rolls of 
thin bread and butter, sandwiches of cucumber and 
pate de foie gras, tempting morsels of pastry, home- 
made jam, and crisp biscuits showed that the house- 
keeper had unconsciously adopted Brett’s views of her 
mistress’ needs. 

Margaret, hardly knowing what she did, toyed at 
first with these delicacies, until she yielded to the de- 
mands of her stimulated appetite. Helen and Brett 
were unfeignedly hungry, and when Brett rose to ring 
for more cucumber sandwiches, they all laughed. 

^^The first time I met you,” said Margaret, whose 
cheeks began to exhibit a faint trace of color, “I told 
you that you could read a woman’s heart. I did not 
know you were also qualified to act as her physician.”, 

^^Well, as your physician,” said Brett, ^^let me rec- 
ommend the north-east coast of Yorkshire as a cure 
for all ills. Do you know that, within the next fort- 
night, you can, if energetic enough, see from the cliffs 
at Whitby the sun rise and set in the sea? It is the 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


105 


one place in England where such a sight is possible- 
I am quite in earnest concerning Whitby, or Cromer, 
if you do not care to go farther north/’ 

“But, Mr. Brett, how can I possibly leave Beech- 
croft now ?” 

“Did Mr. Capella consult you when he went to 
Naples? Are you not mistress here? Take my ad- 
vice. Give the majority of your servants a holiday. 
Close your house, or, better still, have every room dis- 
mantled on the pretense of a thorough renovation. 
Leave it to paperhangers, plasterers and caretakers. 
The rector may be persuaded to allow Miss Layton to 
come with you to London, where you should visit your 
dressmaker, for you can now dispense with mourning. 
When your husband returns from Naples, let him rage 
to the top of his bent. By that time I may be able to 
spare Mr. Hume to look after both of you for a week 
or so. Permit your husband to join you when he 
humbly seeks permission — not before. Believe me, 
Mrs. Capella, if you have strength of will to adopt my 
programme in its entirety, the trip to Naples may have 
results wholly unexpected by the runaway.” 

“Really, Margaret, Mr. Brett's advice seems to me 
to be very sensible. It happens, too, that my father 
needs a change of air, and I think we could both per- 
suade him to come with us.” 

Helen, like all well-regulated young English women, 
quickly took a reasonable view of the problem. Al- 
ready Capella's heroics and his wife's lamentations 
began to appear ridiculous. 

Margaret looked wistfully at both of them. , 

“You do not understand why my husband has gone 
to Naples,” she said, seemingly revolving something in 
her mind. 

“I think I can guess his motive,” said the barrister, ' 
' “Tell me your explanation of the riddle,” she an- 
swered lightly, though a shadow of fear crossed her 
eyes. 




“Soon after your marriage he imagined that he dis- 


106 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


covered certain facts connected with your family — 
sibly relative to your brother's death — which served to 
estrange him from you. Whatever they may be, 
whether existent or fanciful, yon are in no way re- 
sponsible. He has gone to Naples to obtain proofs of ; 
his suspicions, or knowledge. He will come back to 
terrorize you, perhaps to seek revenge for imaginary 
wrongs. Therefore, I say, do not meet him halfway 
by sitting here, blanched and fearful, until it pleases 
him to return. Compel him to seek you. Let him find 
you at least outwardly happy and contented, careless 
of his neglect, and more pleased than otherwise by his 
absence. Tell him to try Algiers in August and Cal* 
cutta in September.’^ 

Margaret’s eyes were widely- distended. Her mo- 
bile features expressed both astonishment and anxiety. 

She covered her face with her hands, in an attitude 
of deep perplexity. 

They knew she was wrestling with the impulse to 
take them wholly into confidence. 

At last she spoke. 

cannot tell you,’’ she said, ^^how comforting your 
words are. If you, a stranger, can estimate the truth 
so nearly, why should I torture myself because my 
husband is outrageously unjust? I will follow your 
counsel, Mr. Brett. If possible, Nellie and I wdll 
leave here to-morrow. Perhaps Mrs. Eastham may 
be able to come with us to town. Will you order my « 
carriage? A drive will do me good. Come witli ! 
Nellie and me, and stay here to dinner. For to-day we 
may dispense with ceremony.” f 

She left the room, walking with a firm and coufi- ■ 
dent step. 

Brett turned to Miss Layton. 

^^Capella is in for trouble,” he said with a laugH. 
"He will be forced to make love to his wife a ^cond 
time.” 


^ |AFAN£S£ REVENGE 


lOU; 


CHAPTER XIV. 

MARGARET SPEAKS OUT, 

During the drive the presence of servants rendered 
conversation impossible on the one topic that en- 
grossed their thoughts. 1 

The barrister, therefore, had an opportunity to dis- 
play the other side of his engaging personality, his 
singular knowledge of the world, his acquaintance 
with the latest developments in literature and the arts, 
and so much of London’s vie intime as was suited 
to the ears of polite society. 

Once he amused the ladies greatly by a trivial in- 
stance of his faculty for deducing a definite fact from 

seemingly inadequate signs. -i 

He was sitting with his back to the horses. They 
passed a field in which some people were working. 
Neither of the women paid attention to the scene, 
Brett, from mere force of habit, took in all details. 

A little farther on he said: ^^Are we approaching as 
village \ 

i Yes,’^ answered Miss Layton, small place named 

Needham.^' i! 

‘^Then it will not surprise me if, during the nexf 
two minutes, we meet a horse and cart with a load oi 
potatoes. The driver is a young man in his shiri 
sleeves. Sitting by his side is a brown-eyed maid in 
a poke bonnet. Probably his left arm follows the ling 
of her apron string.^^ ^ w 

His hearers could not help being surprised by this 
prediction. Helen leaned over the side and looked 
ahead. 

^^Yoa arc wrong this time, Mr. Brett, she laughed 


108 


AJAPANESli: REVENGE 


merrily. ^‘The only vehicle between us and a turn in 
the road is a dog-cart coming this way.’^ 

*‘That merely shows the necessity of carefully choos- 
ing one’s words. I should have said ‘overtake/ not 

The carriage sped swiftly along. Helen craned her 
neck to catch the first glimpse of the yet hidden stretch’ i 
of road beyond the turning. 

“Good gracious!^’ she cried suddenly. 

Even Margaret was stimulated to curiosit3^ Sh^ 
bent over the opposite side. 

“What an extraordinary thing!” she exclaimed. 

Brett sat unmoved, anything in front being, of 
course, quite invisible to him. On the box the coach- 
man nudged the footman, as if to say — 

“Did you ever! Well, s'elp me!” 

For, in the next few strides, the horses had to be 
pulled to one side to avoid a cart laden with potatoes, 
driven by a coatless youth who had one arm thrown 
gracefully around the waist of a girl in a huge bonnet. 

Nellie turned and stared at them in the most un- 
ladylike manner, much to their discomfiture. 

“I do declare,” she cried, “the girl has brown eyes! 
Mr. Brett, do tell us how you did it.” 

“I will,” he replied gaily. “Those laborers in a field 
half a mile away were digging potatoes. Among the 
women sorters was a girl who was gazing anxiously 
in this direction and who resumed work in a very 
bad temper when another woman spoke to her in a 
chaffing way. The gate was left open, and there were 
fresh wheel-tracks in this direction. The men were, 
all coatless, so I argued a young man driving and a' 
girl by his side, hence the annoyance of the watcher in 
the field owing particularly to the position of his arm. 
The presence on the. road of several potatoes, with the 
earth still damp on them, added certainty to my con- 
victions. It is very easy, you see.” 

“Yes, but how about the color of the girl’s eyes?” 

“That was hazardous, to an extent. But five out of 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


109 


every six women in this country have brown eyes."' 

“Well^ you may think it easy; to me it is niarv 
velous.^^ 

! ^*It is positively startling,” said Margaret seriously; 
and if the barrister indulged in a fresh series of de- 
ductions he remained sHent on the topic. 

He tried to lead the conversation to Naples, but 
'was foiled by Mrs. Capella's positive disinclination to 
discuss Italy on any pretext, and Miss Layton’s nat- 
ural desire not to embarrass her. 

, Indeed, so little headway did he make, so fully was 
Margaret's mind taken up with the new departure he 
had suggested, that when the carriage stopped at the 
rectory to drop Helen — who wished to tell her father, 
about the dinner and to change her costume — he was 
tempted to wriggle out of the engagement. 

Inclination pulled him to his quiet sitting-room in 
the County Hotel; impulse bade him remain andf 
make the most of the meagre opportunities offered by 
the drift of conversation. 

hope,” said Helen, at parting, ‘^that I may per- 
suade you to come here and dine with my father some 
evening when Mrs. Capella and I are in town. If you 
take any interest in old coins he will entertain you fot: 
hours.” 

‘‘Then I depend on you to bring an invitation to 
the Hall this evening. I expect to be in Stowmarke^ 
next week.” ^ , 

“Are you leaving tomorrow?” inquired Mrs. Ca*^ 
pella. 

“I think so.” ' 

■ “Would you care to walk to the house with me 
now ?” ‘ 

“I wifi be delighted.” 

So the carriage was sent off, and the tvro followed 
on foot. Brett bought that impulse had led hint 
aright. 

Once past the odge gates, Margaret looked at l]in> 
suddenly, with a quick, searching glance. Hume wa| , 


'110 A JAPANESE REVENGE ' 

jRot in error when he spoke o£ her ‘‘Continental tricks^ 
!of manner.^"’ 4 

“ You wonder/’ she said, ^Hvliy I do nof trust you 
Sully? You know that I am keeping something back 
Srom you? You imagine that you can guess whatf 
I am endeavoring to hide I 

To all those questions, I may generally answer, 

“Of course. You observe the sniail things of life, 
rrhe larger events are built from them. Well, I can 
be candid with you. My husband believes that I not 
only deceived him in regard to my marriage, but he 
3s, or was, very jealous of 

She paused, unable to frame her words satisfac- 
torily. 

“Having said so niuch,^^ put in the barrister gently, 
^you might be more specific.^’ 

His cool, even voice reassured Her. 

“T hardly know how^ best to express myself/^ she 
cried. “Question me. I will reply so far as I am 
^ble.^' 

“Thank you. You have told me that you first met 
Mr. Capella on New Year’s Eve two years ago, at 
iCovent Garden?’^ 

“ That is so.^^ 

“Had you ever heard of him before 
“Never. He w-as brought to my party by an Italian 
Iriend/’ ^ f 

“'Did the acquaintance ripen rapidly ^ I 
“Yes. We found that our tastes w^ere identical in 
many respects. I did not know of my brother’s 
death until the second of January. No one in Beech- 
croft had my address, and my solicitor’s office wasr 
closed on the holiday. Mr. Capella called on me, by 
request, the day after the ball, and already I became 
aware of his admiration. Italians are quick to fall in 
love.'^ 

“ And afterwards 

“'When poor Alan^s murder appeared in the Press^ 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 111 

Giovanni was among the first to write me a sym- 
pathetic letter. Later on we met several times in Lon- 
don. I did not come to reside in the Hall until all 
legal formalities were settled. A year passed. I 
went to Naples. He came from his estate in Calabria, 
and we renewed our friendship. You do not know, 

^ perhaps, that he is a count in his own country, but we 
^ decided not to use the title here.^' 

; Then Mr. Capella is not a poor man i 

‘"By no means. He is far from rich as w’e under- 1 
stand the word. He is wrorth, I believe, i 1,500 a year. 
:Why do you ask? Had you the impression that he 
married me for my money 

''Such things have been done,^- he Said drily. 

“Then disabuse your mind of the idea. He is a 
very proud man. His estates are involved, and in our 
first few days of happiness we did indeed discuss the 
means of freeing them, whilst our marriage contract 
stipulates that in the event of either of us predeceas- 
ing the other and there being no children, the sur- 
vivor inherits. But all at once a cloud came betv/eeii 
us, and Giovanni has curtly, declined any assistance 
'by me in discharging his family debt.^^ • 

Brett could not help remembering Capella^s pas- 
sionate declaration to Helen, but Margaret’s words 
read a new meaning into it. Possibly the Italian ^vas 
:only making a forlorn hope attack on a countrj'f 
5 ^: maiden’s natural to shine amidst her friends. 

' iWelV time would tell. 1 

I Meanwhile Mrs. Capella’s outburst of confidence 
Was valuable. j 

i cloud !’’ he said. What sort of a cloud ' 

‘'Giovanni suddenly discovered that his father and 
mine were deadly enemies. It was a cruel whim of 
Fate that brought us together. Poor fellow ! He was 
very fond of his father, and it seems that a legacy of 
revenge was bequeathed to him against an EngHshmaui 
named Beechcroft. I remembered, too late, that he 
once asked me how our house came to be so nam^d^ 


iil2 A JAPANESE REVENGE 

I . . 

and I explained its English meaning to him. I joked 
about it, and said the place should rightly be called 
Yewcroft. During our honeymoon at Naples he 
learned that my father, for some reason, had traveled 

Over a large part of Italy under an assumed name 

, ^MIow did he learn this?^^ broke in Brett. f 

' cannot tell you. The affair happened like af 
Bash of lightning. We had been to Capri one after- L 
noon, and I was tired. I went to my room to rest? 
for a couple of hours, fell asleep, and awoke to find ,1 
Kiiovanni staring at me in the most terrifying manner, j 
I There was a fierce scene. W e are both hot-tempered, 
j and when he accused me of a ridiculous endeavor to 
hoodwink him in some indefinable way, I became very 
indignant. We patched up a sort of truce, but I may 
honestly say that we have not had a moment’>s happi- 
ness since.^^ 

' ‘^But you spoke of jealousy also?’^ 

^‘That is really too absurd. My cousin Robert 

^^What, the gentleman from the Argentine 
^Wes; I suppose David told you about him?’^ 

“He did,’’ said the barrister grimly. ^ 

“Robert is poor, you may know. He is also very 
good-looking.” 

“A family trait,” Brett could not avoid saying. 

“It has not been an advantage to us,” she replied 
mournfully. 

They were standing now opposite the library, al-^f 
/ most on the spot where her brother fell. They turned | 

^ and strolled back towards the lodge. 

“Robert came to see me,” she resumed. “He paid ' 
a visit in an unconventional manner — waylaid me, in 
I fact, in this very avenue, and asked me to help him. 

' 'He declined to meet my husband, and was very bitter 
! about my marriage to a foreigner. However, I for- 
gave him, for my own heart was sore in me, and he 
also had been unfortunate in a different way. We had 
a long talk, and I kissed him at parting. I afterwards 
found that Giovanni had seen us from his bed-room.^ 


113 


X jap:" xese revenge 

He thought Robert was David. I do not think he be- 
lieved me, even when I showed him the counterfoil of 
my check-book, and the amount of a remittance I sent 
to Robert next day/’ 

There is, I take it, no objection on your part 
to the inquiry I have undertaken — the fixing of re- 
sponsibility for your brother’s death, I mean?” 
i Margaret was silent for a few seconds before she 
said, in a low and steady voice — 

^^We are a strange race, we Hume-Frazers. Some- 
how I felt, when I first saw you and Davie together, 
that you would be bound up with a crisis in my life, 
I dread crises. They have ever been unfortunate 
for me. I cannot explain myself further. I know 
I am approaching an eventful epoch. Well, I am 
prepared. Go on with your work, in God’s name, 
1 canned b^me more unhappy than I am/’ 


ull4 


A ;Ai'ANES£ KEVENG* 


CHAPTER XV. 


5 

I 


AN UNEXPECTED VISITOK* 


1 

I 'A clock in the church tower chimed the half-hour. 

I ‘-We dine at seven,” said Mrs, Capella. Let' us 
retvtrn to the house.” 

The dinner passed uneventfully. 

‘ An hour passed in pleasant chat. Then Miss Lay- 
ton thought it v/as time she went home, and Brett pro- 
posed to escort her to the Rectory, subsequently pick- 
ing up his conveyance at the inn. 

‘ They walked obliquely across the park towards the 
house," regaining it through a clump of laurels and the 


conservatory. 

It chanced that for a moment they were silent. 
Margaret led the way. Helen followe^ Brett came 
. close behind. ® 

1 M'hen the mistress of Beechcroft Hall stepped oa 
to the turf in front of the library, a man standing, 
tmder the yews a little way down the avenue moved 
forward to accost her. 

i She uttered a little cry and retreated quickly. 

! “Whv, Davie,” cried Helen, “surely it cannot be 
you!” ■ 

The stranger made no reply, but paused irreso- 
lutelv. Even in the dim light Brett needed no second 
glance to reveal to him the astounding coincidence 
that this mysterious ptQwUr w'as Robert Hume- 
^ F rater. 

[ “Good evening,” he said. *‘Do you wish to see 
: your cousin ?” 

t "And who the devil may you be?” was thg curt an- 
; $wer. 


^^^'A/6^nd of Mrs. Capella’s.” 


A JAPANESE HEVENGE 


115 


' Vm glad to hear it. I thought you covil*^ 

jiot be 0at beastly Italian/"^ 

You are candor itself ; but you have not answered 

i ^‘ Aboat seeing my cousin ?! Jfo. I will call 
she b less engaged.” 

i He turned to go, but Brett caught him by the 
shouideiv 

I ‘‘Wilt you come quietly,” he said, by tlie scruft 
the neck 

The other man wheeled round again. That he 
feared no personal violence was evident. Indeed, it 
was possible Brett had over-estimated his own strength 
in suggesting the alternative. 

The Argentine cousin laughed boisterously. 

' ^ By the Lord Harry,” he cried. like your style ! 

I will come in, if only to have a good look at you.” 

fTliey approached the two frightened women. Mar- 
garet had recognized his voice, and now advanced 
with outstretched hand. 

am glad to see you, Robert,”^ sHe said in tones 
that vibrated somewhat. ^^Why did you not let me 
know you were coming?” 

Because i did not know myself until an Hour l>e- 
^ fore I left London. Moreover, you might have wired 
‘ and told me to stop awray, so I sailed without orders.” 

The position was awkward. The new-comer had 
evidently walked from Stowmarket. .He had the ap- 
pearance of a gentleman, soiled perhaps, but a man. 
birth and good breeding. 

Helen was g'azing at him in sheer wonderment. He 
so extremely like David that, at a distance it was 
easy to confuse the one with the other. 

Brett^ too, examined him curiously. He recalled 
^‘Rabbit Jack^s” words — ^^either the chap hisself or hk 
^ad spit.” 

Bill it behooved him to rescue the ladies itotv. an 
impasse. 

i ‘^Wheu you reached Stowmarket did the statiofi* 


116 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


master exhibit any marked interest in you he in- ' 
qiiired. 

^‘Well, now, that beats the bandP^ cried Robert. 
^^He looked at me as though I had seven heads and 
horns to match. But how did you know that 

Merely on account of your marked resemblance to | 
David Hume-Frazer. It puzzled the station-master. | 
some time ago. By the way, you appear to like the • 
shade of the yew trees outside. Do you always ap- ■ 
proach Beechcroft Hall in the same way ?” ^ 

The ex-sailor’s bold eyes did not fall before the ^ 
barrister’s penetrating glance. 

^^Wliat the deuce has it got to do with you?^^ he 
replied fiercely. ^‘Who has appointed you grand in- 
quisitor to the family, I should like to know? Mar- 
garet, I beg your pardon, but this chap 

^Ts my friend, Mr. Reginald Brett. He is engaged 
in unravelling the manner and cause of poor Alan’s 
death. He has my full sanction, Robert, and was 
brought here, in the first instance, by David. I hop«, 
therefore, you will treat him more civilly.’’ 

‘H will treat him as he treats me. I owe him noth- 
ing.” I 

They were talking in the ill-fated library, having' 
entered the house through the center window. The 
unbidden guest faced the others, and although the 
cloud of suspicion hung heavily upon him, the barris- _ 
ter was far too shrewd an observer of human nature ^ 
to attribute his present defiant attitude to other than g 
its true origin — a feeling of humiliated pride. B 
Brett understood that to question him further was f 
to risk a scene — a thing to be avoided at all costs, p 
^^No doubt,” he said, ^^you wish to speak privately ^ 
to Mrs. Capella. I was on the point of escorting Mi^ 
‘Layton to her house. Shall I return and drive you 
back to Stowmarket? I will be here in fifteen min- 
utes.” 

would be better than walking,” replied Robert 


A JAPAXESK RKVSNGE li7i , 

weavily, settling* into a chair with the air of a mat! 
physically tired and mentally perturbed. 

Again there was a dramatic pause. Helen, more 
farmed than she wished to admit, gave Margaret a 
/questioning look, and received a strained but reas- 
isuring smile. 

* ‘^Then I will go now she began, but instantly 

stopped. Like the others she heard the quick trot of 
a liorse, and the sound of rapid wheels approaching 
from the lodge. 

'■‘Who can this be?’’ cried M^irgaret, blanching| 
visibly. 

The vehicle, a dog-cart, drew nearer. They all 
went to the window. Even the indifferent Robert 
rose and joined them. 

Helen startled them by running out to the side of 
the drive. 

^‘This time I am not mistaken,” she cried. is 
Davie!” 

The proceedings of the gentleman who jumped 
from the dogcart left no doubt on the point. He 
brazenly kissed her, and in her excitement she seemed 
to likq it. 

' She evidently whispered something to him, for his 
first words to Brett were — ^^How did you find out—” 

But the barrister was not anxious to let the cousin 
from Argentina into the secret of the search for him. 

I have found out nothing,” he interrupted, 
have been at Beechcroft all the afternoon and evcn- 
1 ing. Meanwhile, you must be surprised to meet Mr. 
i Robert Hume-Frazer here so unexpectedly.” 

David luckily grasped his friend's intention. Sucli 
information as he possessed must wait until they were 
alone. 

. ‘^How d'ye do, Bob?” he said, frankly, holding out 
his hand. ^^Why have you left us aione all these 
years to turn up at last in this queer way?” 

The young man's kind greeting, his manly attitude, 
had an unlooked-for effect. 


its 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


. Robert ignored the profiered hand. He reached 
ior his hat 

, feel like a beastly interloper,” he growled. ’^Ac- 
cept my apologies, Margaret, and you, Miss Layton. 

I will call in the morning. Mr. Brett, if you still hold 
to your offer, I will await you at the lodge, or any | 
other place you care to name.” | 

With blazing eyes, and mouth firmly set, he en-/ 
deavored to reach the open window. Brett barred his 1 
"way. 

^^Sit down, man,” he said sternly. ^‘Why are you 
such a fool as to resist the kindness offered to you ? I 
tried to make matters easy for you. Now I speak 
plainly. You are weak with hunger.” 

He had seen what the others had missed. The 
color in Robertas face was due to exposure, but' he 
was otherwise drawn and haggard. His clothes were 
shabby. He had walked from Stowmarket because 
he could not afford to hire any means of conveyance. 
The abject confession compelled by Brett’s words 
was too much for him. He again collapsed into a 
chair and covered his face with his hands. 


'A JAPANESE EEVENGK 


119 t 


CHAPTER XVI. 

I 

I THE COUSINS. 

Brett was the only person present who kept his ; 
senses. Margaret was too shocked, the lovers too | 
amazed, to speak coherently. < 

*‘Mr, Hume-Frazer has allowed himself to become; 
run down,^^ said the barrister, wdth the nonchalance ' 
of; one who discussed the prospects of tomorrow's | 
weather. ^^What he needs at the moment is some! 
soup and a few biscuits. You, Mrs. Capella, mighS: 
procure these without bringing the servants here^i 
especially if Miss Layton were to help you.’^ 

Without a word the two ladies quitted the room. 

Robert looked up. 

^^You ring like good metal,’* he said to the barrister^; 
^Hs there any liquor in the dining-room? I feel ^ 
trifle hollow about the belt A drink would do ma 
good.” '! 

“Not until you have eaten something first,” wa^ 
the. firm answer. “Are you so hard up that you couM 
not buy food?” | 

) “Well, the fact is, I have been on my beam endsi 
during the past week. Today I pawned a silver watch 
I but unfortunately returned to my lodgings, where my| 

; landlady made such a fiendish row about the bill thafi 
I gaye her every penny. Then I pawned my over-* 
coat, raising the exact fare to Stowmarket. I could 
not even pay for a ’bus from Gower Street to Liver-* 
pool Street All I have eaten today was a humbld 
breakfast at 8:30 a. m., and I suppose the sun and 
the journey wore me out Still, you must be 3olI;g 


120 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


sharp to see what was the matter. I thought I kepi 
my end up pretty well.^^ 

David sat down by his side. 

“Forgive me, old chap,^^ continued Robert. f ' 

broke me up to see that you were happy after all your, 
troubles. You are engaged to a nice girl; Alan is 
dead ; I am the only unlucky member of the family.^’ { 

The mar was talking quite sincerely. He even 
envied his murdered cousin. Nothing in his words, 
his suspicious mode of announcing his presence, tlie 
vague doubts that shadowed his past career, puzzled 
Brett so greatly as that chance phrase. 

The ladies came back, laden with good things from 
the kitchen, which they insisted on carrying them- 
selves, much to the astonishment of the servants. 

“How did you come to be in such a state?’’ asked 
Margaret nervously. “It is hardly six months since I 
sent you £500; not a very large sum, I admit, but all 
you asked me for, and more than enough to live on- 
for a much longer period.” 

Robert laughed pleasantly. j.t was the first token 
of returning confidence. He reached for a cigar, and 
sought Margaret’s permission to smoke. 

“My dear girl,” he answered, “I am really a very 
unfortunate person. I own a hundred thousand acres 
of the best land in South America, and I have been in 
England nearly two years trying to raise capital to 
develop it. If I owned a salted reef or an American 
brewery I could have got the money for the asking.- 
Because my stock-raising proposition is a sound paying, 
concern, requiring a delay of at least three years before; 
a penny of profit can be realized, I have worn my 
boots out ill climbing up and down office stairs to no 
purpose. Out of your £500, nearly £400 went out at 
once to pay arrears of Government taxation to save 
my property. Of the remaining hundred I spent fifty 
in a fortnight on dinners and suppers given to a gang 
of top-hatted scoundrels who, I found subsequently, 
were not worth a red cent. They hoped to fleece me 


'A JAPANESE REVENGE 


121 


in some way, and their very association discredited 
me in the eyes of one or two honest men. Oh, I have 
had a bad time of it, I can assure you!^’ 

, ^*Why did you not write to me again 

He looked at her steadily before he explained — • 
j Because you are a woman.’^ 

! ^ *^What has that got to do with it? I am your rela- 
tive, and rich. How much do you want? If yomi 
scheme is really sound, I imagine my solicitors might 
sanction my co-operationd^ 

Again he hesitated. 

^‘Thank you, Rita. You are a good sort. But I am 
not here on a matter of high finance. I want you to 
knd me, say, i250. I will return to the Argentine, 
and take twenty years to accomplish what I could do 
in five with the necessary capital.” 

^^Come and see me in the morning. The sum you 
name is absurdly small, in any case. Perhaps Mr. 
Brett will accompany you. His advice will be useful 
to both of us. Come early. I leave here tomorrow.” 

Going away! Where to?” 

^‘To Whitby, in Yorkshire.” 

^^VVell, that is curious,” said Robert, who clearly did'' 
not like to question her about her husband. 

^‘Mr. Capella is in Naples,” she added. cannot 
say when he will return.” 

Her cousin’s look was eloquent of his thoughts.. 
He did not like the Italian, for some inexplicable 
reason, for, to Margaret’s knowledge, they had never 
met. 

The barrister naturally did not interfere in this 
family conclave. He listened intently, and had already 
drawn several inferences from the man’s words. For 
the life of him he could not classify Robert Hume- 
Frazer. The man was either a consummate scoundrel, 
the cold-blooded murderer of Margaret’s brother, or 
a maligned and ill-used man. i 

’Within a few minutes he would be called upon to] 


122 


A JAPANESE RE\ EXGE 


treat him in one category or the other. A few qucs^ 
tions might elucidate matters considerably. 

The hiatus in the conversation created by the men- 
tion of Capella gave him an opportunity. 

^^Did you endeavor to raise the requisite capital for 
your estate in London only ?^^ he inquired. 

^^No; I tried elsewhere, P was the . quick rejoinder. 

^^Here, for instance, on the New Year’s Eve before 
last?” 

^^Now, how the blazes did you learn that?” came 
the fierce demand, the speaker’s excitement rendering 
hirn careless of the words he used, 
is true, then?” 

^^Yes, but — ^ — ” 

^‘Robert!” — Margaret’s voice was choking, and her 
face was woefully white once more — ^^Svere you— 
here — ^when Alan — was killed?” 

'^No, not exactly. This thing bewilders me. Let me 
explain. I saw him that afternoon. We had a furious 
quarrel. I never told you about it, Rita. It was a 
family matter. I do not hold you responsible. I — — ” 

^‘Hold me responsible! What do you mean? Did 
you kill my brother ?” 

She rose to her feet. Her eyes seemed to peer into 
his soul. He, too, rose and faced her. 

. ^^By God,” he cried, ^Hhis is too much ! Why didn’t 
you ask your husband that question?” 

‘^Because my husband, with all his faults, is iu-^ 
nocent of that crime. He was with me in London the 
night that Alan met his death.” 

^^A.nd I, too, was in London. I left Stowmarket at i 
six o’clock.” 

Having reached the place at 2:20?” interposed 
Brett. 

The other turned to him with eager pleading. 

^Tn Heaven’s name, Mr. Brett, if you know ail 
about my movements that day, disabuse Margaret’s 
mind of the terrible idea that prompted her question.” 

«Why did you come here on that occasion?” ; 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


123 


‘^The truth must out now. My two uncles swindled 
my father — that is, ^ Margaret, your father led my ' 
Uncle David with him in a most unjust proceeding. 
iMy father took up some risky business in City finance, 
on tlie verbal understanding with his brothers that 
tliey would share profits or bear losses equally. The 
f speculation failed, and your father basely withdrew 
^ from the compact, persuading the other brother to fol- 
low his lead.” 

‘^Why did you not come forward then?” 
r ^.Why? No man could have better reasoirs. First, 
it seemed to me that Davie had killed him. Then, 
when the second trial ended, I came to the conclusion 

Lord help my wits! — ^that. there was some under- 
handed work about the succession to the property, 
and my doubts appeared to receive confirmation by 
the news of Margaret's marriage. In any case, if 
I turned up to give evidence, I could only have helped 
to hang one of my own relatives.” 

^'It never occurred to you that you might be sus- 
pected?” 

Never, on mjrhonorl The suggestion is prepos- 
terous.” 

He placed his hands on her shoulders, and looked at 
her with such genuine emotion that she lifted her 
swimming eyes to his, and faltered — < 

: ‘‘Forgive me, Robert, though I can never forgive 
myself. Your words shocked me. I am sorry. I 
r am not mistaken now. Y ou are innocent as I am*” ^ 


124 


A J4?^NESE REVENGE 


CHAPTER xvn. 

^^CHERCHEZ LA FEMME.’' 

i 

The three men drove to Stowmarket in the same 
vehicle, the grooms returning in the second dog-cart. 

On the way Robert Frazer — who may be designated 
by his second surname to distinguish him from his 
cousin — was anxious to learn. what had caused die 
present recrudescence of inquiry into Alan’s dead*!. 
This was easily explained by David, and Brett took 
care to confine the conversation to general details. 

They reached the hotel where a room was obtained 
for Frazer, and David undertook to equip him out of 
his portmanteau. Brett left the cousins to arrange 
matters and hurried to his sitting-room, where a num- 
ber of telegrams awaited him. 

One was timed 4 :30 p. m. — 

^^Jap, accompanied by tall, fat man, left home 2:4S. 
They separated at Piccadilly Circus. Followed Jap — 
"Oh, Winter!’ groaned Brett — and saw him enter 
British Museum. Four o’clock he met fat man a^ain 
outside Tottenham Court Road Tube Station. 'Hiey I 
drove west in hansom. Heard address given. Am^ 
wiring before going same place.” ‘i 

cannot emulate the House of Commons bird^”| 
he mused, "^or at this moment I would be close to f 
Jiro’s flat in Kensington, and at the same time crossing ^ 
Lombardy in an express. What an ass Winter is, to 
be sure, whenever a subtle stroke requires an ingenious 
guard. Jiro dresses his wife in male attire and sends 
her on an errand he dare not perform himself.^ The 
fact that they depart together from their residence 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


125 


5s diplomatic in itself. If they are followed, the 
watcher is sure to shadow Jiro and leave his un- 
known friend. Just imagine Winter dodging Jiro 
around the Rosetta Stone or the Phoebus Apollo, 
whilst the woman is visiting some one or some place 
of infinite value to our searcli. It is positively mad- 
dening/^ 

David entered. 

just seized an opportunity — he commenced 
eagerly, but Brett leveled his cigar at him as ii it 
were a revolver. 

^‘You want to tell me,” he cried, ^^that before you 
were two hours in Portsmouth you ascertained 
Frazer’s address from an old friend. You caught 
the next train for London, went to his lodgings, en- 
countered a nagging landlady, and found that your 
cousin had taken his overcoat to the pawn-brokePs 
to raise money for his fare to Stowmarket. You 
drove frantically to Liverpool Street, interviewed a 
platform inspector, and he told you — ” 

^^That all. I had to do was to ask and he 

would not only give me a detailed history of my own 
actions, but produce the very man he sent me in search 
of,” interrupted David laughing. Notlung the barris- 
ter said or did could astonish him now. 

‘‘What has upset you?” he went OJi. ^I hope I 
made no mistakes.” < 

. “None. Your conduct has been irreproachable. But 
you erred greatly in the choice of your parents. There 
are far too many Hume-Frazers in existence.” 

“Please tell me what is the matter?” 

“Read those.” Brett tossed the detective’s t=ele- 
grams across the table. 

Hume puzzled over them. 

I think we ought to know who that fat man was,” 
he said. 

“We do know. She is a fat woman, the ex-bannaid 
from Ipswich. Next time, they will send out the 
youthful Jiro in a perambulator ” i 


X JAPANESE &EVENGE 


.326 


^‘But wHy are you so furious about demanded 
Kume. ^^Was it so important to ascertain what she 
Jdid during that hour and a quarter?^’ 
i ^^mportant! It is the only real clue given us since 
^Rabbit Jack’ saw a man like you standing motionless 
in the avenue/^ 

Brett, the next morning, made up his mind to go to i 
Ipswich and thence to London, Further delay at 
iStowmarket was useless. 

At the county town he experienced little difficulty in ^ 
learning the antecedents of Mrs. Numagawa Jiro, 

In the first hotel he entered he found a young lady 
behind the bar who was not only well acquainted with 
iMrs. Jiro, but remembered the circumstances of the 
jeourtship. 

Following her advice, he went to the Hotel patron- 
ized by Mr. Jiro during his visit to Ipswich. The 
landlord readily showed him the register for the As- 
size week. Most of the guests were barristers and 
solicitors, many of them known personally to Brett. 
[None of the other names struck him as important, 
though he noted a few wrho arrived on the same day 
as the Japanese. ^ 

He took the next train to London, and reached 
i [Victoria Street, to find Mr. Winter awaiting him, and 
icarefully nursing a brown paper parcel. 

\ got your wire, Mr. Brett,” he explained, ^and 
'this morning after Mr. Jiro went out alone — ^ 
i Where did he go?” 
r ^To the British Museum.” 

I ^‘What on earth was he doing there?” 
f ‘^Examining manuscripts, my assistant told me. He| 

, was particularly interested in — ^let me see— it is 
^ ten on a bit of paper* Here it is, the ^Nihon Guai 
' Shi* the ‘Ebcternal History of Japan,’ compiled br 
Rai Sanyo, between 1806 and 1827, containing a his- 
tory of each of the military families. That is alt 
' Greek to me, but my man got the librarian to jot it 


A JAPAI'-TESE EgVEIfGE : 127 

*^Your man has brains. What were you going tor 
say 'A’hen I interrupted 

'‘Only this. No fat companion appeared to-day, so 
I called at No. 17 St. John's Mansions in my favorite 
i character as an old do' man.’^ 

The barrister expressed extravagant admiration in 
dumb show, but this did not deceive the detective, 
mwIio, for some reason was downcast. 

saw Mrs. Jiro, arid knew in an instant that she 
was the stout gentleman who left her husband at 
Ticcadilly Circus yesterday. I was that annoyed I 
could hardly do a deal. However here they are.'' 

He began to unfasten the string which fastened the 
brown paper parcel. 

^‘Mrs. Jiro's coat and trousers, and waistcoat/' re- 
plied Winter desperately. ^^She doesn't warit 'em 
any more ; sold 'em for a song — ^glad to get rid of em, 
ill fact.” 

i He unfolded a suit of huge dimensions, surveying 
each garment ruefully, as though reproaching it per- 
sonally for the manner in which it had deceived him. 
f Then Brett sat down arid enjoyed a burst of H«m- 
■eric laughter. 


128 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


CHAPTER XVIIL 

.THE THIRD MAN APPEARS, 

t? The Rev. Wilberforce Layton raised ni> objection^ 
to his daughter’s excursion to London with Mrs. 
Capella. Indeed, he promised to meet them in Whitby 
a week later, and remain there during August. Mrs, 
Itaslham pleaded age and the school treat. 

It was, therefore, a comparatively youthful party 
which Brett joined at dinner in one of the great hotels 
fn Northumberland Avenue. 

I Some one had exercised rare discretion in ordering 
a special meal ; the wines were good, and two at least 
of the company merry as emancipated school children, 
f The barrister soon received ample confirmation of 
the discovery made by the Stowmarket waiter, 
i* Robert Hume-Frazer was undoubtedly in lov£ with 
Ills cousin, or, to speak correctly — for the ex-sailor 
was a gentleman — ^he had been in love with her as a 
boy, and now secretly grieved over a hopeless passion. 

Whether Margaret was conscious of this devotion 
or not, Brett was unable to decide. By neither word 
nor look was Robert indiscreet. When she was pres-|^^ 
ent he was lively and talkative, entertaining the others 
with snatches of strange memories drawn from an 
adventurous career. 

‘ It was only when she quitted their little circle that , 
Brett detected the mask of angry despair that settled 
for a moment on the young man’s face and rendered 
him indifferent to other influences until he resolutely 
aroused himself. 

Yet on the whole, a great improvement was visible 
in Frazer. Attired in cue of David’s evening dress 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


129 


sal'js, carefully groomed and trimmed, he no sooner 
donned the garments which gave him the outward 
sejnblance of an aristocrat than he dropped the curt, 
) somewhat coarse, mannerisms which hitherto distin- 
^guished him from his cousin. 

Beyond a more cosmopolitan style of speech, he was 
singularly like David in person and deportment. 
They resembled twins rather than first cousins. They 
were both remarkably fine looking men, tall, wiry and 
in splendid condition. It was only the slightly more 
attenuated features of Robert that made it possible, 
even for Brett, to distinguish one from the other at 
a Kttle distance. 

Brett went home about ten o’clock. Next day he 
W£j^ arranging for the immediate delivery of a type- 
writer machine sold by Mr. Numagawa Jiro to a 
iWest-End exchange, when a telegram reached him — > 


^*Come at once. Urgent. 

r 

He drove to the hotel, where David and Helen were 
sitting in the foyer awaiting his arrival. 

“A terrible thing has happened,’^ David said, as he 
grasped the barrister’s hand. ^^Some one tried to kill 
Bob an hour ago.’’ 

The blank amazement on Brett’s face caused him 
to add hurriedly — 

‘Mt is quite true. He had the narrowest escape. 
He is in bed now'. The doctor is examining him. We 
have secured the next room to his, and Margaret k 
there with a nurse.” 

j The barrister made no reply but accompanied them 
to Frazer’s apartment. In the adjoining room they 
found Margaret terribly scared, but listening eagerly 
to the doctor’s cheery optimism. 

Indeed, Robert appeared almost Immediately, and in 
a bad temper. 

lost my wind,” he explained, ^^wlien that horse 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


130 

f fell on me, and every one promptly imagined I 
killed;^ 

^"What happened said Brett. 

^'^The most extraordinary thing. Have you toM 
him, Davie I 

^^No, I attributed your first words to me as being f 
due to delirium. I had no idea you were in earnest’^ 
‘^Well, Mr. said Frazer, sitting down, for, 

notwithstanding his protests, he was somewhat shaky, 
began to rain after breakfast.” 

Excellent !” cried the barrister, "^^^n Englishman. 
;in his sound mind, always starts with the state of the 
i weather.” 

I am sound enough, thank goodness, but I had a 
very close shave. Don't laugh, Davie. My ribs are 
: i^ore. As the ladies decided not to go out until the 
[weather took up, Davie said he would keep them com- 
pany while I seized the opportunity to visit a tailor. 

I left the hotel and walked quickly to the corner of 
[j/V^hitehall. It was hardly worth while taking a cab 
ito Bond Street, and I intended to cross in front of 
; King Charles’ statue. It is an awkward place, and a 
lot of ’buses, cabs, and vans were bowling along down- 
hill from the Strand and St. Martin's Church. I 
waited a moment on the curbstone, watching for a 
■ favorable opportunity, when suddenly I was pitched 
head foremost in front of a passing ’bus. My escape 
from instant death was solely due to the splendid way § 
in which the driver handled his horses and applied | 

, his brake. The near horse was swung round so sharp \ 
that he fell and landed almost, not quite, on top of me, . 

I could feel his hot, reeking body against my face/ 
and although the greater part of his impact was borne 
by the road, I got enough to knock the breath out of 
me. You v/ill see by the state of my clothes in the 
other room how I was flattened in the mud. By the 
way, Davie, it is your suit.” 

Helen choked back something she was going to say, 
and Frazer continued— 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


131 ? . 

policeman pulled me from under the horse, and 
I kept my senses sufficiently to note how the near 
front wheel had gouged a channel in the mud within 
; jan inch or so of my head. It went over my hat 
: [^Vhere is it?^’ 

I Hume ran into the bedroom, and returned with a 
. : bowler hat torn to shreds. 

U There you are,^^ said Robert coolly. Fancy my 
h<^d in that condition.’^ 

‘^You used the word ^pitched/ Do you mean thafi 
someone cannoned against you 

‘^Not a bit of it. It was no accident of a hurryipg 
man blindly following an urnbrella. I have been a 
sailor, Mr. Brett, and am accustomed to maintaining 
my balance in a sudden lurch. I do it intuitively. It 
is as much a, part of my second self as using my eyes 
or ears with unconscious accuracy. Some man— a 
big, powerful man — designedly threw me down, and 
did so very scientifically, first pressing his knee against 
the tendons of my left leg, and then using his elbow, 
^ot one in a thousand Londoners w’'QuId know the 
trick.^^ 

^*You are a first-rate witness. Pray go on,” said 
Brett. 

/‘Being a sailor, however, I did manage to twis^ 
round slightly as I fell, and I’m blessed if I didn’t 
think it was Davie here who did it.” 

\ The barrister’s keen face lighted curiously. The 
/lothers, closely watching him, afterwards agreed that 
if he reminded them of a, greyhound straining after a 
S- luckless hare. ^ ! 

M ‘‘Yhat seems to interest you, Mr. Brett,” said 
* Frazer. assure you the momentary impression : 
was very distinct My assailant was dressed like" 
Davie, too, in dark blue serge and wore a beard. For 
the moment I forgot that Davie had visited the barbeu 
this morning, and I blurted out something when he 
met me being carried in through the hall.” 

^ ‘ ‘Yes,” exclaimed Hume. “‘You said; 'Davie, vvii^ 


132 


A JAPANESE REVENGE ( 

did you try to murder me?’ I was sure you were de- 
lirious, as I had not left Nellie and Margaret for an 
instant since you went out/’ 

‘^That is so,” cried Helen. 

Margaret uttered no word. She sat, with hands 
clasped, and pale, set face, watching her cousin as if 
his story had a mesmeric effect. " 

"'H'm awfully sorry,” said Frazer penitently. 
knew at once I was a fool, but you see, old chap, E; 
remembered you best as I had seen you during the 
])revious twenty- four hours, and not as you looked al ^ 
breakfast this morning. Do forgive me.” \ 

But Brett broke in impatiently — i 

‘^My dear fellow, your natural mistake is the mosS 
important thing that has happened since your cousin 
Alan met his death. The man who attacked you mis- ; 
took you, in turn, for David. He will try again, E; 
wonder if your accident will be reported in the. 

papers ?” ’t 

‘‘Yes,” said Hume. youngster came to me, in-, 
quired all about Robert, and seemed to be quite sorry; 
he was not mangled.” | 

^^Then it will be your affair next time. Keep a close 
look-out whenever you are alone. If any one resem- 
bling yourself lays a hand on you, try and detain hitft 
at all costs.” i 

‘^Mr. Brett!” shrieked Helen, ^you surely cannoiS 
mean it.” g 

His enthusiasm had caused him to ignore her pre^| 
euce. For the next five minutes he was earnestly en^ | 
gaged in explaining away his mneanny request. , 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


133 


CHAPTER XIX. 

j CONCERNING MOTIVES. 

‘ When Brett reached his flat, he found Winter there 
On the dining-room table he found two telegrams and 
a Remington typewriter. 

The messages were from Holden, Naples. 

The first: Johnson arrived here this morning.^' 
The second: ^‘Johnson's proceedings refer to poor- 
house and church registers.’’ 

^‘Johnson is Capella,” explained Winter. fov- 
got to tell you we had arranged that.” 
f Brett surveyed the second telegram so intently that 
the detective inquired — 

^‘How do you read that, sir?” 

Capella is securing copies of certificates of — mar- 
riages, births or deaths ; perhaps all three. He is also 
getting hold of living witnesses.” 
what?” 

^Hle will tell us himself. He is preparing a bomb- 
shell of sorts. It will explode here. Goodness only 
.knows who will be blown up by it.” 

I He took the cover off the typewriter, seized a sheet 
of paper, and began to manipulate the keyboard with 
the methodical carefulness of one unaccustomed to its 
use. He wrote — 

u About Stowmarket. David Hume Frazer killed 
cousin. Cousin talked girl in road. Girl waited wood. 
David Hume Frazer met girl in road after 1 a. m.” 

;; you mean to say,” cried the detective, ^^that 

you can remember the anonymous letter word for 
word? You have only seen it once, and that was sev- 
eral days ago.” 


134 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


^^Not only word for word, out the spacing, the num- 
ber of words in a line, the lines between which creases 
appear* Look Winter. Here is the small broken ‘c/ 
the bent capital ‘D,' the letter V out of register* 
Where is the original?” 

^‘Here, in my pocket-book.” 

They silently compared the two typed sheets. It|^ 
needed no expert to note that they had been written^ 
by the same machine. 

would take a clever counsel to upset that piece? 


of evidence,” said Winter. wish I had hold of the 
writer.” 


‘^You have spoken to him several times.” 

Surely you cannot mean Jiro!” 

^*Who else? Jiro is but the tool of a superior scoun- 
drel. He is just beginning to suspect the fact, and try- 
ing to use it for his own benefit. I wish I was in 
Haples with your friend Holden.” 

^‘But, Mr. Brett, the murderer is in London I YvTiat 
about this morning's attempt — ” 

^^My dear fellow, you are already constructing the 
gallows. Leave that to the gaol officials. What we do 
not yet know is the motive. The key to the mystery is 
in Naples, probably in Capella’s hands at this moment. 

; Jf I were there it would be in mine, too. Do not ques- 
i tion me, Winter. I am not inspired. I can only in- ‘ 
pdulge in vague imaginings. Capella will bring the 
: reality to London.” 

^^Then what are we to do meanwhile?” 



I “Await events patiently. Watch Jiro with th^ calmi 


persistence of a cat watching a hole into which 


mouse has disappeared. At this moment, eat some- 
thing.” 

He rang for Smith and told him to attend to tlie 
wants of the waiting cabman, whilst Mrs. Smith made 
the speediest arrangements for an immediate dinner. 

The two men sat down, and Winter could not help 
asking another question. 

“Why are you keeping the cab, Mr. Brett?” 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


135 


""Because I am superstitious.^^ 

The detective opened wide his eyes at this unlaoked- 
for statement. 

I meant it,*’ said the barrister. ^‘Look at ail I have 
I learned to-day whilst darting about London in that 
^ particular hansom, v/hich, mind you, I carefully sel- 
I ected from a rank of twenty. Abandon it until I am 

J dropped at my starting-point! Never!” 

Winter sighed. 

never feel that way about anything on wheels,” 
he said. ^^Do you really think you will be able to clear 
up this affair, sir? It seems to me to be a bigger 
muddle now than when I left it after the second trial. 
Don't laugh at me. That is awkwardly put, I k^ov»^ 
But then we had a straightforward crime to deal with. 
Now, goodness knows where we have landed.” 

^‘Let us,” said Brett, ^^for the moment, adopt, the 
policy of the theosophists and sit in consultation apart 
from our astral bodies. Who killed Sir Alan Hume- 
Frazer? I answer, a relative. What relative? Some 
one we do not know, or who committed murder be- 
cause he was known. What sort of person is the 
murderer? A man physic^ly like either David cr 
Robert, so like that /Rabbit Jack’ would swear to the 
identity of either of them as readily as to the person 
of the real murderer. Why did he use such a weird 
instrument as the Ko-Katana? Because he found it 
under his hand and recognized its sinister purpose, to 
I be left implanted in the breast or brain of an enemy’s 
lifeless body. Where is the man now? In London, 
^ perhaps outside this building, perhaps watching the 
N orthumberland Avenue Hotel waiting quietly for an- 
other chance to take the life of the person who caused 
us to reopen this inquiry. To sum up, Winter, let us 
fmd such an individual, a Hume-Frazer with black, 
deadly eyes, with a cold, calculating, remorseless brain, 
wdth a knowledge of trick and fence not generally 
aiv attribute of the Anglo-Saxon race — let us lay hands 


136 


'A JAPANESE REVENGE 


on him, I say, and you can book him for kiiigTioni 
come, via the Old Bailey.’’ 

^"Yes, sir!” broke in .Winter excitedly. the 

motive 1” 0 

tu. Brute! Would the disciple rend his mas- 
ter? Have I not told you that Capella will bring that 
knowledge from Naples? I have hopes even of your 
long-nosed friend, Holden, giving us all the details we 
need.” ^ 

What did the murderer steal from Sir Alan’s writ- 
ing-desk, from the drawer broken open before the 
blow was struck?” 

Smith entered, bearing the dinner. 

^^The motive, Winter! The motive!” laughed Brett, 
and in pursuance of his invariable practice, he refused 
to say another word about the crime or its perpetrator, 
during the meal. 


■Ji JAPANESE REVENGE 


132 ^ 


„ 

CHAPTER XX. 

Olke second attack:. 

They were intent on the feast prepared by Smith, 
when a boy messenger brought a note. It was from 
Helen, written in pencil — 

f '"^^David was coming to see you when he was at^ 
Jacked. Can you come to us at once? ? 

[ S. — David is all right — only shaken and cov-' 

ered with mud. It occurred five minutes ago.^’ 

^*Dear me!’^ said Brett. ^^Dear me!” 

There was such a hiss of concentrated fury in his? 
voice that Winter was puzzled to account for the harm- 
less expression the barrister had twice used. The de- 
tective knew that his distinguished friend never, by 
any chance, indulged in strong language, yet something 
had annoyed him so greatly that a more powerful ex- 
pletive would have had a very natural sound. 

» Brett glared at him. 

is evident,” he said, ^^that you do not know the 
. meaning of 'Dear me.’ It is simply the English form 
of the Italian 'O Dio mio I’ and a literal translation 
' would shock you.” 

^Ht doesn’t appear that much damage has been done 
to your client,” gasped Winter, for Brett had uncere- 
moniously dragged him from his chair with the inten- 
tion of rushing downstairs forthwith. 

They hurried out together, and dashed into the 
waiting hansom. 

^^Think of it, Winter!” groaned the barrister. 
^'.Whilst we were seduced by Smith’s cooking, the 


1^8 


J APAJsESE R^y.EKG E 


yery man we wanted was waiting in Northumbeidand 
Avenue. You are avenged! All my jibes and sneers 
at Scotland Yard recoil on my own head. I might 
have known that such a desperate scoundrel would 
#oon make another attempt, and the next time nponf 
the right person." I 

dashed if I can guess what you’re driving at/^| 
growled the detective. | 

‘‘No, I understand. The blood has left your brain f 
,^nd gone to your stomach. .You will not be. able to| 
think for hours," 

Raving thus, in 'disjointed sentences that Winter 
could not make head or tail of, Brett refused to be 
explicit until they reached the hotel where they were 
met by David himself, seated in the foyer by the side 
of Helen, who looked white and frightened. 

“This chap is a terror," began Hume, once. they 
were safe in the privacy of their sitting-room. “I would 
never have believed such things \yere possible in JU)n- 
don, if they had not actually happened to Rpbert and 
me to-day. We had dinner rather early^ and dined 
in private, as Robert is feeling stiff now . after this 
morning's adventure. Margaret suggested—" 

“Where is Mrs. Gapella?" interrupted the barrister. 

Miss Layton answered — 

“She is with Mr. Frazer. They.have found a,quieti 
corner of the ladies’ smoking-room— I mean the smok- 
ing-room where ladies go— and we have not told them 
yet what has happened to Davie." 

“Well," resumed Hume, “Margaret’s idea is that 
should all leave here for the North to-morrow. Shef 
wanted you to approve of the arrangements^ so I got 
into a hansom and started for your chambers. It was 
raining a little, and the street was full of traffic. The 
driver asked if I would like the window closed, but I 
•would sooner face a tiger than drive through London 
in a boxed-up hansom, so t refused. The middle of 
Hht road, you, know, has a long line of waiting cabs, 
broken by occasional crossing-places. The horse was 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


139 


P 

just getting into a trot when a man, wrapped in a 
mackintosh, ran alongside, caught the off rein in the ^ 
crook of his stick, swung the poor beast right round 
(through one of the gaps in the rank and down we 
weflt^horse, cab, driver and niyself — in front of a 
brewer^s dray. Luckily for me and the driver, we 
^w^efe flung right over the smash into the gutter, for 
-the big, heavy van ran into the fallen hansom, crushed 
it like a matchbox, and killed the horse. Had the 
window been closed— well, it wasn-t, so there is no 
need of romancing.’^ 

b Poor Nellie clung to her lover as if to assure her- 
self that he was really uninjured. ^^Did you see your 
assailant clearly 

L ^‘Unfortunately, no. The side windows were 
blurred with rain, and I was trying to strike a niatcli. 
The first thing I was conscious of was a violent 
swerve. I looked up, saw a tall figure wrenching at 
the reins with a crooked stick, and over we went. I 
fell into a bed of mud. It absolutely blinded me. I 
jumped up, and fancying that the blackguard ran ui> 
Northumberland Street I dashed after him. I can- 
noned against some passerby and we both fell. K 
news-runner, who witnessed the affair, did go after 
the cause of it, and received such a knock-out blow on 
the jaw that he was hardly able to speak when found 
by a policeman.^^ 

Where is this man now ?’^ 

p- «\Vith the cabman in a small hotel across the road. 

1 1 had not the nerve to bring them here. If we have 
j any more adventures, the management will turn us 
1 oiit. I fancy they think our behavior is hardly respect- 
able. The instant Robert or I endeavor to leave the 
dbbr we are used to clean up a portion of the road- 
jWay.^^ 

‘^Miss Layton, would you mind joining the others 
/for a few minutes? Mr. Hume is going out with Mr. 


(Winter and myself.” 

fov: The barristeris request took Helen by surprise. 


jHO a JAPANESE REVSKOE 

I 

j' there any ncfd 0< ri^T^ she faltered, 

f ^Moreover, Margaret w9l see at once that something 
has gone wrong. I am a poor hand at deception where 
•^ivhere Davie is concerned.’^ 

^^Have no fear. Tell them everything. Mr. Hume 
^ill be very seriously injured — in tomorrow morn-| 
ing’s papers. This expert in street accidents must bej 
led to believe he has succeeded. In any case, aided by - 
a miserable foul, he is far enough from here at this' 
moment. We will return in twenty minutes.^’ 

The girl was so agitated that she hardly noticed 
CBrett’s words. But their purport reassured her, and 
I she left them. ^ 

The three men passed out into the drizzling rain. 
iOwing to the Strand being ^^up,^’ a continuous stream 
' Oi traffic flowed through the Avenue. Hume pointed 
: out the gap through which the horse was forced, and 
they darted across t^e roadway. 

fell here/^ he said, indicating a muddy flood of 
road scrapings, in which were embedded many 
Splinters from the wreckage of the hansom. 

Brett, careless of the amazement he caused to hurry- 
ing pedestrians, waded through the bed of mud, kick- 
ing up any objects encountered by his feet. 

He uttered an exclamation of triumph when he pro- 
duced a stick from the depths. 

thought I should find it,’^ he said. ^^When the 
horse fell it was a hundred to one against the stick ^ 
being extricated from the reins, and its owner could | 
not wait an instant. You and the stick, niy dearV 
Hume, lay close together.'^ I 

A small crowd was gathering. The Barrister | 
laughed. I 

Gentlemen,’^ he said, ^why are you so surprised?* 
aWhich of you would not dirty his boots to recover 
such a valuable article as this?” 

Some people grinned sympathetically. They all 
moved away. 

I In an upper room of the neighboring public-house 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


141 


were a suffering ^^runner’^ and a disconsolate ^^cabby.^^, 
The ^^runner^^ could tell them nothing tangible con- 
cerning the man he pursued. 

sawr ’im bring the boss dahn like a bullick/^ he 
whispered, for the poor fellow had received a terrible 
blow. went arter ’im, dodged rahnd the fust cor- 
ner, an^ bli-me, 'e gev me a punch that would 
^arted Corbett.’^ 

i *^What with — ^his fist?’^ inquired Brett 
^ ^‘Nah, guv’nor — ’is 'ell, blawst ’im. I could ^ave 
dodged a square blow. I can use niy dukes a bit 
myself.’’ 

i, ^^What was the value of the punch?” 

^ The youth tried to smile, though the effort tortured 
him. ^Tt was worth ’arf a thick ’un at least, guv’nor.”* 

I Hume gave him two sovereigns, and the runnen 
could not have been more taken aback had the donoc 
^Tanded him” on the sound jaw. 1 

‘"And now, yon,” said Brett to the cabman. "AVhafi 
did you see ?” *’ 

^^Me!” with a snort of indignation. ^‘Little ovea? 
an hour ago I sawr a smawt keb an’ a tidy little nag 
wot I gev thirty quid fer at Ward’s in the Edgeware 
. Road a fortnight larst Toosday. And what do I seoi 
now? Marylebone Work’us fer me an’ the missis aa^ 
the kids. My keb gone, my best boss killed, an’ a por^ 
old crock left, worth abart enough to pay the week’g / 
stablin’. I see a lot, I do.” i 

i The man was telling the truth. He was blear-eyed 
jWith misery. Brett looked at Hume, and the lattec 
rang a bell. He asked the waiter for a pen and inkjs 
and the cabman was dumbfounded by being handed ^ 
check for ilOO. ^ j 

^^Now then,” said Brett. Surely you Eave som0 
idea of the appearance of the rascal who pulled yout? ^ 
horse over ?” 

The man was alternately surveying tHe check and! 
locking into the face of his benefactor. 


142 


A JAPANESE REVENGE, 


“I dutino,” he cried, after a pause. “I feelja 6il 
mixed. This gentleman ’ere ’as acted as isquwe as 
ever man did. ’E comes of a good stock, ’e does, an" 
5fct — i ’nmbly ax yer pawdon, sir— but the feller who 
fried to kill you an’ me might ha’ bin yer owh brother.” , 


JAPANESE 8£rEJifGi 243 j 


i 

[ jCHAPTER xxr. 

‘ ^ j 

HA^GAKEX'S SECRET, 

The waiter managed lo remove the most obvious^ 
traces erf Bretfs escapade in the gutter, and inciden* 
tally cleaned the stick. 

was a light, tough ashplaiit, with a silver band 
around the handle. The barrister held it under a gas 
jet and examined it closely. Nothing escaped him. 
After scrutinizing the band for some time, he looked 
at the ferrule, and roughly estimated that the owner; 
had used it two or three years. Finally, when quite 
satisfied, he handed it to Winter. 4 

^‘Do you recognize those scratches?’^ he said, witli 
a smile, pointing out a rough design bitten into the 
silver by the application of aqua regia and beeswax, i 
The detective at once uttered an exclamation of siH 
preme astonishment. _ 

*'The very tiling!'^ he cried. ^The same Japanese- 
motto as that on the Ko-Katana!^^ ^ ^ 

Hume now drew near. . - ^ 

j ^^So/^ he growled savagely, hand that struck' 
[down Alan w^as the same that sought my life an hott^ 
I ago!’- -- 

'^And your cousin’s this morning,’’ said BrettX ^ 
^^'The cowardly brute! If he has a grudge against} 
my family, why doesn’t he come out into the open 3. 
He need not have feared detection even a week ago^l 
i could be found easily enough. Why didn’t he nieei^ 
me face to face? I have never yet run away from: 
trouble or danger.” 4 

*^You are slightly in error regarding him,” observed 
Brett. ^hThig man may be a fiend incarnate, but he isj 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


U-r 

no coward. He means to kill, to work some terrible 
purpose, and he takes the best means towards that end. 
To his mind the idea of giving a victim fair play is 
sheer nonsense. It never even occurs to him. But a 
coward! no. Think of the nerve required to commit 
robbery and murder under the conditions that obtained • 
at Beechcroft on New Year’s Eve. Think of the 
skill, the ready resource which made so promptly 
available the conditions of the two assaults today. 
Our quarry is a genius, a Poe among criminals. Look 
to it, Winter, that your handcuffs are well fixed when, 
you arrest him, or he will slip from your grasp at the 
very gates of Scotland Yard.^’ 

^‘Jf I had my fingers round his windpipe — began 
David. 

“You would be a dead man a few^ seconds later,’’ 
said the barrister. “If we three, unarmed, had him in 
This room now, equally defenseless, I should regard 
the issue as doubtful.” 

1 “There would be a terrible dustup,” smirked Win- 
ter. I 

i “Possibly; but it would be a fight for life or death. 
iNo half measures. A matter of decanters, fire-irons, 
s chairs. Let us return to the hotel.” 

Whilst Hume went to summon the others, Brett 
' seated himself at a table, and wrote — 

5 “A curious chapter of accidents happened in Nortli-f 
lumberland Avenue yesterday. Early in the morning 
* Mr. Robert Hume-Frazer quitted his hotel for a stroll 
; in the West End, and narrowly escaped being run over 
in Whitehall. About 8 p. m. his cousin, Mr, David 
Hume-Frazer, w^as driving through the Avenue in a 
hansom, when the vehicle upset, and the young gentle- 
man was throwm out. He w'-as picked up in a terrible 
condition, and is reported to be in danger of his life.” 

The barrister read the paragraph aloud. 

“It is casuistic,” he commented, “but that defect is 
pa rdonable. After all, it 'is not absolutely mendacious, 
li:: a War Office telegram. Winter, go and bring joy 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


145 


to the heart of some penny-a-liner by giving him that 
item. The ‘coincidence’ will insure its acceptance by 
every morning paper in London, and you can safely 
leave the reporter himself to add details about Mr. 
Hume’s connection with the Stowmarket affair,^’ 

The detective rose. 

, “Will you be here when I come back, sir?^’ he 
asked. 

“I expect so. In any case, you must follow on to 
my chambers. To-night we will concert our plan of 
campaign.’^ ' 

Margaret entered with Helen and the two men. 
Robert limped somewhat. 

“How d’ye do, Brett?’’ he cried cheerily. “That 
beggar hurt me more than I imagined at the time. 
He struck a tendon in my left leg so hard that it is 
quite painful now.” 

Brett gave an answering smile, but his thoughts did 
not find utterance. How strange it was that two men, 
so widely dissimilar as Robert and the vendor of 
newspapers, should insist on the skill, the unerring cer- 
tainty, of the opponent. 

“Mrs. Capella,” he said, wheeling round upon the 
lady, “when you lived in London or on the Continent 
‘ did you ever include any Japanese in the circle of youf 
acquaintances ?” 

“YcvS,” was the replj. 

I Margaret was white, her lips tense, the brilliancy 
, of her large eyes almost unnatural, 
j “Tell me about them.” 

' ^ “What can I tell you? They were bright, lively 
, little men. They amused my friends by their quainti 
ideas, and interested us at times by recounting inci- 
dents of life in the East.” 

\ ^ Margaret could not face the barrister’s thoughtfuh 
searching gaze. She stood up — like the others of her 
race when danger threatened. She even laughed 
harshly. 

i “I have decided,” she said, “to leave here {omorrow 


m A JAPANESE REVENGE 

mofnmg. Hden says she does not object. Our United 
wardrobes vvill serve all needs of the seashore. Rob- 
erf s tailor visited him today, and assured him that the 
result would be satisfactory without any preliminary , 
"trying on/ Do yoii approve, Mr. Brett | 

""Most heartily. I can hardly believe that our hid-? 
deh foe will make a further attack until lie learns that 
he has been foiled again. Yet you will all be happier/^ 
and unquestionably safer, away from London. Doe^ ' 
any one here know where you are going?’^ 

""No one. I have not told my maid or footman. It 
was not necessary, we intended to remain here 
week.^^ 

""Admirable I When you leav^ the hotel in the 
morning give Yarmouth as your destination. Not 
until you reach King’s Cross need you inform your 
servai^s that you are really going to Whitby. Would 
you object to — ah, well, that is perhaps difficult. I 
was about to suggest an assumed name, but Miss; Lay- 
ton’s father would object, no doubt. 

""If he did not, I would,” said Robert inipetuouslyc 
""Who has Margaret to fear, and what do David and I 
care for all the anonymous scoundrels in creation ?” 

""Is there really so much danger that such a pro- 
ceeding is advisable ?” queried the trembling Nellie. t 
""To-day’s circumstances speak for themselves. Miss 
Layton,” replied Brett. ""Neither you nor Mrs. Capell;t 
rim the least risk. I will not be answerable for the;4 
others. Grave difficulties must be surmounted before) 
the power for further injury is taken from the man we 
seek. In my professional capacity, I say act openly^| 
advertise your destination, make it known that Mr.| 
Hurrie escaped from the wreck of the hansom unhurt. J 
Should the would-be murderer follow you to WTiitby, 
he .cannot escape me. Here in London he is one 
among five millions. But speaking as a friend, I ad- 
vise' the utmost vigilance unless another Hume-Fra^er 
is to die in his boots.” 


A JAPANESE REVENGE* 14^ 

■ It was not Helen but Margaret wfio wailed in 
agony— 

"Do you really mean what you say? Have matters 
reached that stage 
M ^^Yes, they have/^ 

A His voice was cold^ almost stem, 

>1 Kindly telegraph your Whitby address to me,” he 
’■§aid to Hume. Then he walked to the door, leaving 
k them brusquely. 

For once in his career he was deeply annoyed. 

' "Confound all women 1” he muttered in anger. 
^Tbey nurse some petty little secret, some childish 
love affair, and deem its preservation more important 
than their own happiness or the lives of their best 
triends. They are all alike— duchess or scullery ^maid. 
rTheir fluttering hearts are all the world to themj, and 
everything else chaos. If that woman only chose — ” 

"Mr. Brett!” came a clear voice along the corridor, 

I It was Margaret. She came to him hastily. , 

"Why do you suspect me?” she exclaimed brokenly, 
"l am the most miserable woman on earth. Suffering 
and death environ me, and overwhelm those n<^rest 
and dearest. Yet what have I done that you should 
think me capable of concealing from you material 
facts which would be of use to you?” 

The barrister w^as tempted to retort that what she 
believed to be "material” might indeed be of very 
slight service to him, but the contrary proposition held 
good, too. 

Then he saw the anguish in her face, and it moved 
i him to say gently — 

"Go back to your friends, Mrs. Capella. I am not 
. the keeper of your conscience. I am almost sure you 
are worrying yourself about trifles. Whatever they 
may be, you are not responsible. Rest assured of this, 
in a few days much that is now dim and troublous will 
be cleared up. I ask you nothing further. I would 
prefer not to hear anything you wish to say to me. It 
?«ight fetter my hands. Good-bye.” 


148 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


CHAPTER XXir. 


THE MEETING. 

There he said to himself, as he passed down-^j 
stairs, am just as big a fool as she is. She followed 
me to make a clean breast of everything, and I send 
her back with a request to keep her lips sealed. Yefi 
I am angry with her for the risk she is taking 

He reached the hall and was about to cross the 
foyer when he caught the words, Gentleman thrown 
out of a cab,’’ uttered by a handsome girl, cheaply but 
gaudily attired, who was making some inquiry at the 
bureau. 

He stopped and searched for a match. Then he be- 
came interested in the latest news, pinned in strips on 
the baize-covered board of a ^^ticker.” 

The girl explained to an official that she had wit- 
nessed an accident that evening. She was told that a 
gentleman who lived in the hotel was hurt Was he 
seriously injured? 

The hotel man, from long practice, was enabled to 
sum up such inquirers rapidly. | 

^^Do you know the gentleman ?” he inquired. I 

^‘No — that is, slightly.” ^ ® 

^‘Well madam, if you give me your card I wiH send f 
it to his friends. They will give you all necessary •' 
information.” 

She became confused. She was not accustomed to 
the quiet elegance of a great hotel. The men in even- 
ing dress, the gorgeously attired ladies passing to 
elevator or drawing-room, seemed to be listening to 
her. Why did the bureau keeper speak so loudly? 
Then the assurance of the Cockney came to her aid. 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


m 

“I don^t see why there should be such a fuss about 
nothing/’ she said. don’t know his people. I saw 
the gentleman pitched out of a cab and was sorry for 
him, so I just called to ask how he was.” 

‘ The young woman bounced out in a fury, and Brett 
followed her, silently thanking the favoring planets 
which had sent him down the stairs at the very mo- 
ment when the girl was proffering her request to the 
clerk. 

The girl did not head towards the busy Strand, but 
w^alked direct to Charing Cross station on the District 
Railway. 

The barrister thought she intended to go somewhere 
by train. He quickened his pace in order to be able 
to rapidly obtain a ticket and thus keep up with her. 
Herein he was lucky. To his surprise, she passed out 
on the Embankment side. 

He followed, and nowhere could he see her. Then 
he remembered the steps leading to the footpath along 
the Hungerford Bridge. Running up these steps he 
soon caught sight of the young woman, who was walk- 
ing rapidly toward Waterloo. On reaching the Surrey 
side the girl made for the Waterloo Road. There she 
mounted on the top of a ’bus. 

Brett went inside. The ’bus reached the famous 
center of humanity, passing thence through Newing- 
ton Butts to the Kennington Park Road, 
j In the latter thoroughfare the girl skipped down 
^ from the roof, and disdafining the conductor’s offer to 
stop, swung herself lightly to the ground. The barris- 
I ter followed, and soon found himself tracking her 
i along a curved street of dingy houses. 

Into one of these she vanished. It chanced to be 
opposite a gas lamp, and as he walked past he made 
out the number — 37. 

Externally it was exactly like its neighbors, dull, 
soiled, pinched old curtains, worn blinds, blistered 
paint. He knew that if he walked inside he would 
tread on a strip of oilcloth, once gay in red and yel- 


l30 A JAPArsESE REVENGE 

Io\v squares, but now worn to a dirty ^ey uniformity. 
Ill the ^^hall” he would encounter a rickety hat*stand 
faced by an ancient print entitled ^‘Idie Hours, and 
depicting two ladies, reclining on rocks, attired in tre* 
mehdous skirts, tight jackets, and diminutive straw 
hats perched between their foreheads and chignons-^ 
in the middle distance a fat urchin, all hat and frills, 
staring stupidly at the ocean. 

Nothing very mysterious or awe-inspiring about 2/^ 
Middle Street, yet the barrister was loth to leave 
the place. The scent of the chase was in his nostrils. 
He had «found.^’ 

He was tempted to boldly approach and frame some 
excuse — a hunt for lodgings, an inquiry for a missing 
friend, anything to gain admittance and learn some- 
thing, however meagre in result, of the occupants. 

He reviewed the facts calmly. To attempt, at such 
an hour, to glean information from the sharp-tongued 
yottng person who had just admitted herself with a 
latch-key, was to court failure and suspicion. He 
must bide his time. Winter was an adept in ferreting 
out facts concerning these localities and their denizens. 
To Winter the inquiry must be left. 

He stopped at the further end of the street, lit a: 
cigar, and walked back. 

He had again passed No. 37, giving a casual glance 
to tile second floor front window, in which a light 
illumined the blind, when he became aware that a 
man was approaching from the Kennington Park 
Road. Otherwise the street was empty. 

The man was tall and strongly built. ^ He walked 
with a long, swinging stride, yet carried himself erect* 
He was attired in a navy blue serge suit and a bowler 
hat. 

The two were rapidly nearing each other. 

At ten yards’ distance Brett knew that the other 
man was he whom he sought, the murderer of Sir 
Alan Hume-Frazer, the human ogre whose mission on 


A JAPANESE REVENGE ISl 

earth seemed to be the extinction of all who bore that 
fated name. 

It is idle to deny that Brett was startled by tliis 
unexpected rencounter. Not until he made the discov- 
ery did he remember that he was carrying the stick res- 
tcued from the mud of Northumberland Avenue. 

The knowledge gave him an. additional thrill. 
Though he could be cool enough in exciting circum- 
stances, though his quiet courage had more than once 
saved his life in moments of extreme perib though 
j physically he was more than able to hold his own with, 
say, the average professional boxer, he fully under- 
stood that the individual now about to pass within a 
Stride could kill him with ridiculous ease. 

Would this dangerous personage recognize his own 
stick ?— that was the question. 

if he did, Brett could already see himself describing 
a . parabola in the air, could hear his skull crashing 
against the pavement He even went so far as to sit 
v/ith the coroner's jury and bring in a verdict of ‘‘Ac- 
cidentaLDeath.’’ 

in no sense did Brett exaggerate the risk he en- 
countered. The individual who could stab Sir Alan to 
death with a knife like a toy, hurl a stalwart sailor 
into the middle of a street without perceptible effort, 
and bring down a horse and cab at the precise instant 
aiid in the exact spot determined upon after a second’s 
thought, was no ordinary opponent. 

^ Their eyes met. 

i Truly a fiendish-looking Hume-Frazer, a Satanic 
; impersonation of a fine human type. For the first and 
?only time in his life Brett regretted that he did not 
" carry a revolver when engaged in his^ semi-profes- 
sional affairs. 

They passed. 

Brett swung the stick carelessly in his left hand, but 
not so carelessly that on the least sign of a hostile 
movement he would be unable to dash it viciously at 
his possible adversaria’s eyes. 


152 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


He remembered the advice of an old cavalry officer. 

Always give ’em the point between the eyes. They 
come head first, and you reach ’em at the earliest mo- 
ment’’ m 

Nevertheless, he experienced a quick quiver down 
iiis spine when the other man deliberately stopped 
and looked after him. He did not turn his head, but 
he could feel” that vicious glance traveling over him, 
could hear the unspoken question: ^^Now, I wonder 
who you are and what you want here ?” 

He staggered slightly, recovered his balance, and 
went on. It was a masterpiece of suggestiveness, not 
overdone, a mere wink of intoxication, as it were. 

The watcher resumed his interrupted progress. 
Brett crossed the street and deliberately knocked at 
the door of a house in which the ground floor was 
illuminated. 

Some one peeped through a blind, the door opened 
as far as a rattling chain would permit. 

‘^Good evening,” said Brett. 

^^What do you want?” demanded a suspicious 
woman. 

^^Mr. Smith — ^Mr. Horatio Smith.” 

^'^He doesn’t live here.” 

^^Dear me! Isn’t this 76 Middle Street?” 

^^Yes; all the same, there’s no Smiths here.’^ ^ 

The other man had entered No. 37. 


V 




A JAPANESE REVENGE 


153 


CHAPTER XXIII, 

MR. OOMA. 

In Kennington Park Road he hailed a hansom and 
drove home. Winter awaited himj for Smith now ad- 
mitted the detective without demur should his master 
be absent. 

Winter was much amazed when Brett gave him a 
full, true and complete history of events since his 
parting with Mrs. Capella, in the corridor, and had 
just instructed him to keep a close eye on No. 3Z 
Middle Street, when Smith entered with the follow- 
ing telegram: 

Johnson leaves Naples tonight with others. I 
travel same train. Holden,^’ 

The barrister surveyed the simple words with an 
intensity that indicated his desire to wrest from their 
context its hidden significance. 

j Finally he said: ^^Now, mark you, Winter, Capella 
j wishes to be rid of his wife, by death or legal separa- 
tion. He thinks he wants to marry Miss Layton. He 
tis convinced that something within his power, if done 
effectively, will bring about both events. He can 
shunt Mrs. Capella and so disgust Miss Layton with 
the Hume-Frazers that she will turn to the next ar- 
dent and sympathetic wooer that presents himself. 
He knew the points of his case, and went to Naples 
to procure proofs. He has obtained them. They are 
chiefly living persons. He is bringing them to Eng- 
land, and their testimony will convict Mrs. Capella 
©f some wrong-doing, either voluntary or involuntary* 


I if54 A JAPANESE REVENGE 

% 

Bolden knows what Capella has accomplished, and 
thinks it is unnecessary to remain longer in Naples. 
He is right I tell you Winter, I like Holden/’ 

I ‘'And I tell you, Mr. Brett, that if I swallowed/ 
the whole of Mr. Poe’s stories, I couldn’t make outL^ 
Holden’s telegram in that fashion. So I must stickp' 
to my own methods, and I’ve put away a few wronglC 
’’uns in my time. When shall I see you next?” ] 

Brett took out his watch. ‘ 

''At seven p. m., the day after to-morrow,” he said 
coolly. "Until then my address is 'Hotel Metropole, 
Brighton’.” 

He kept his word. Early next morning, after des- 
patching a message to David Hume> and receiving an 
answer — an acknowledginent of his address in case 
of need — he took train to London-by-the-Sea, and for 
thirty-six hours flung mysteries and intrigues to the 
winds. 

He came back prepared for the approaching climax. 

In such matters he was a human barometer. The 
affairs of the family in whose interests he had become 
so suddenly involved were rapidly reaching an acute 
stage. Something must happen soon, and that some- 
thing would probably have tremendous and far-reach- 
ing consequences. 

Capella and his companions, known and. unknown, 
would reach London at 7 :30 p. m. It pleased Brett 
to time his homeward journey so that he would speed 
in the same direction, but arrive before them. U 

In these trivial matters he owned to a boyish en-i 
thusiasm. It stimulated him to "beat the other man,” 1 
even if he only called upon the London, Brighton and' 
South Coast to conquer a weak opponent like the 
South-Eastern. 

At his flat were several letters . and telegrams. 
Mrs. Capella wrote— 

"I have seriously considered your last words to me. 
it is hard for a. woman,, the viedm of circumstances, 


155 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 

and deprived of her husband’s support at a most try- 
ing and critical period, to know how to act for the 
best. You said you wished your hands to be left 
i unfettered. Well, be it so. You will encounter no 
1 hindrance from me. I pray for your success, and caa 
?ohly hope that in bringing happiness to others you 
^will secure peace for me.’^ 

^^Poor woman!’’ he murmured. ^^She still trusts to 
chance to save her. Whom does she dread? Not 
her husband. Each day that passes she must despise 
him the more. Does she know that Robert loves her? 
Is she afraid that he will despise her? Really, a col- 
lision in which Capella was the only victim would 
be a perfect godsend.” 

David telegraphed the safe arrival of the party at 
a Whitby hotel. ^‘We have seen nothing more of our 
Northumberland Avenue acquaintance,” he added. 

Holden, too, cabled from Paris, announcing prog- 
ress. The remainder of the correspondence referred 
to other matters and social engagements, all which 
latter fixtures the barrister had summarily broken. 

Winter was announced. His face heralded impor- 
tant tidings. 

^‘Well, how gees the ratiocinative progress?’^ was 
. Brett’s greeting. 

don’t know him,” said the detective. ^^But I do 
jhappen to know most of the private inquiry agents 
! in. London, and one of ’em is going strong in Middle 
^Street. He’s watching Mr. Ooma for all he’s worth.” 

^^Mr. Whom-a?” 

I’m not joking, Mr. Brett. Tliat is the name of 
the mysterious gent in No. 37— Ooma, no init!alc% 
Anyhow, that is the name he gives to the landlady, 
and her daughter— the girl you followed from the 
hotel — ^tells all her friends that when he gets his right^i 
he will marry her and make her a princess.” 

^^Ooma — a princess,” repeated Brett. 

, ^‘Such is the yarn in Kentiington circles. I obeyed 


156 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


orders absolutely. I and my mate took turn about in 
the lodgings we hired, where wc are supposed to be 
inventors. My pal has a mechanical twist. He puts 
together a small electric machine during his spell, and 
I take it to pieces in mine. Yesterday my lan^ady I 
was in the room and Ooma looked out of the opposite ? 
window. Then she told me the whole story.^^ 5 

‘‘Goon— do!’’ f 

“Mr. Ooma is evidently puzzled to learn what 
become of the Hume-Frazers and Mrs. Capella.” 

“Why, do you bring in her name?” 

“Because it leads to the second part of my story. 
Some one — Capella or his solicitors, I expect — in- 
structed Messrs. Matchem and Smith, private detec- 
tives, to keep a close eye on the lady. Their man is an 
•ex-police constable, a former subordinate of mine who - 
was fined for taking a drink when he ought not to. 
Of course, I knew him and he knew me, so I hadnT 
much trouble in getting it out of him.’' 

The speaker paused with due dramatic effect. 

“Got what out of him?” cried Brett impatiently. 
“And don't puff your cheeks in that way. Remem- 
ber the terrible fate of the frog who would be a bull.” 

“There's neither irogs nor bulls in this business/^ 
retorted Winter, calm in the consciousness of his com- 
ing revelation. “Mrs. Capella did go to Middle Street 
that night. She drove there in a hansom, had a long, 
talk with Ooma, and nearly drove Miss Dew" crazy 
%vith jealousy.” | 

“We guessed that already. Miss Dew is the pros-)^ 
pective princess, I presume?” j 

"‘Yes. She has been twice to the hotel since, trying i 
to find out where the party went to.” , \ 

“Next?” 

“Ooma has plenty of money, and now my prize 
packet — he is a Jap !” 

“Impossible!” 

“This time you are wrong, Mr. Brett. You have' 
only seen him once. You were full of his remarkable 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


157 


MSeness to the Humc-Frazers. It is startling, I- 
aftmit, and at night-time no man living could avoid ^ 
the mistake. But I tell you he is a Jap. lie met Jiro 
yesterday, and they walked to Kensington Palace 
Gardens. They talked Japanese all the time. My 
mate heard them. Fie distinctly caught the word 
'Okasaki' more than once. He managed to shadow 
them very neatly by hiring a bath-chair and telling 
the attendant to come near to the pair every time 
there was a chance. More than that, when you know 
' it, you can see the Japanese eyes, skin and mouth. 
It is the grafting of the Jap on the European model 
that gives him the likeness to — well, to the party you 
mentioned the other day.’^ 

^^The devil 1^^ exclaimed Brett. 

That’s him 

It was useless to explain that the exclamation wa$ 
one of amazement. 

The barrister began to roam about the apartment, 
frowning with the intensity of his thoughts. Once 
he confronted Winter. ^^Are you sure of this?^’ he 
demanded. 

So sure that were it not for your positive instruc- 
tions, Mr. Ooma would now be in Holloway await- 
ing his trial on a charge of murder. Look at the 
facts. ‘Rabbit Jack’ can identify him. He knew how- 
to use the Ko-Katana. He knew the Japanese tricks* 
of wrestling, which enabled him to make these two 
clever attacks on the two cousins. He has some power: 
over Mrs. Capella, which brings her to him at eleven 
at night in a distant quarter of London. He made 
4 Jiro write the typed, letter in my possession. He 
sent Jiro to Ipswich to attend Mr. David’s second trial 
when the first missed fire. I can string Mr. Ooma oa 
that little lot.^’ 

^^Winter,’’ said Brett sternly, ^‘•'you make me tired. 
Have all these stunning items of intelligence invaded 
your intellect only since you went to Middle Street?’^ 

^‘No, not exactly, Mr. Brett. I must admit that 


A JAPANESE SEVENC^ 


15a 

each one of them is your discovery, cxcepj the fact 
that he is a Jap— always excepting that — ^but yester- 
day I strung them together, so to speak.^^ 

Ending your task by stringing Ooma, in imagina- 
lion, allow you full credit for your sensational de- 1 
veiopment — always excepting this, that I sent you to 
Middle Street. Why did he kill Sir Alan? How does 
his Japanese nationality elucidate an utterly useless! 
and purposeless murder?” ^ 

don't know, Mr, Brett.” i 

Unless I am much mistaken, you will learn to«- 
inght. Holden is nearly due.” 

The barrister resumed his stalk round the room. 
Jn another minute he stopped to glance at his watch. 

^^Half-past seven,” he murmured. “Just time to get 
u message through to Whitby, and perhaps a reply.” 

He wrote a telegram to Hume: “Where is Fergu- 
son? I want to see him.” 

“WTiat has Ferguson got to do with the business?” 
arfeed the detective. 

“'Probably nothing. But he is the oldest available 
repository of the family secrets. His master has told 
him to be explicit with me. By questioning him, I 
may solve the riddle presented by Sir. Ooma. Does 
the name suggest nothing to you, Winter?” 

■^It has a Japanese ring about it,” ^ ^ ^ 

“Nothing Scotch? Isn't it like Hume, for in-'* 
stance?” € 

“By Jove! I never thought of that. Well, there/ 

I give in. Ooma! Dash my buttons, that beats, cock-1 
fighting!” f 

The barrister paid no heed to Winter’s fall front' 
Belf-importance. He pondered deeply on the queer 
iwist given to events by the detective's statement. At 
last he took a volume from his book-case. 

“Do you remember what I told you about Japanese; 
Barnes?” he said, “I described to you, for instance, 
strange mutations your surname would undergo 
ssrere you born in the Far East.^' 


A JAPAXiiSE P]EVEXGE 159? 

^^Yes, I would be called Spring, Summer, etc., ac- 
cording to my growth/^ 

‘^Then listen to this,” and he read the followift^^ 
extract from that excellent work, The Mikado's Em-- 
pire, by W. E. Griffis — 

'It has, until recently, in Japan been the custom for 
every Samurai to be tifimed differently in babyhood, 
boyhood, manhood, of promotion, change of life, or 
residence, in cornmemdrdtion of certain events, or on. 
account of a vow, or from mere whim/ 

•'What a place for aliases intefjpolated tlie pro- 
fessional. 

" 'At the birth of a faimotis warrior,^ went on Brett/ 
*"his mother, having dreamed that she cohtdveci By 
the sun, called hirn Hiyo^hi Maro (good vSUh) . Otlier*^ 
dubbed him Ko Chifai^ (small boy) and afterward 
Saru Wafsu (nidnkey-pihe) / 

He closed the volume. 

'' This gentleman has twenty other names, he 
added; "but the foregoing list will suffice. Doesh^t it 
strike you as odd that the man who struck down the 
fifth Hume-Frazer baronet on the spot so fatal to his 
four predecessbfs, should bring from a country given 
to such name-changes a cognomen that irresistibly re- 
calls the original enemy of the family, David Hume?’^ 

"It is odd,’/ asserted Winter. 

Some one rang, and Was admitted, 

"Mr. Holden,” announced Smith. ' 


ll60 


A JAPANESE REVEN^S 


iSHAPTER XXIV. 


r 

I 


Holden's story. 

I 

1 . , 

The long-nosed ex-sergeant entered. His sallow 
face was browned after his long journeys and ex- 
posure to the Italian sun in midsummer. He was 
soiled and travel-stained. 

^^Bxcuse my appearance,’^ he said. have had 
310 time for even a wash since morning. On board 
the boat I thought it best to keep a constant watch 
;on Capella and his companions.” 

Who are they?” demanded Brett. 

Mr. Holden looked at the barrister with an injured 
Sair. 

am a man of few words, sir,” he said, ^^and if 
you do not mind, I will tell my story in my own way.” 

Winter was secretly delighted to hear the ^^Old 'Un,” 
as they called him in the Yard, take a rise out of Brett 
in this manner. 

Perhaps,” exclaimed the barrister, ^^your few| 
Words will come more easily if you wet your whistle !”L 

^^Well, I must admit that Italian wine — ” 1 

! “Is not equal to Scotch ; or is it Irish ?” | 

f “Irish sir, if you please.” t 

Mr. Holden's utterance having been cleared of cin- \ 
ders, he made a fresh start. 

“As I was saying, gentlemen, I kept an observant 
eye on Capella and his companions, and at the same 
time occupied myself in the fashioning of certain lit- 
tle models with which to illustrate my subsequent re- 
marks.” 

He produced a map of Naples, which he carefully 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 161 

4 

smoothed out on the table, pressing the Cixases witli 
his fingers until Brett itched to tweak his long nose. 1 
The man was evidently a Belfast Irishman, and the 
(barrister forced himself to find amusement in specu^^ 
lating how such an individual came to speak Italian' 
fluently. Speculation on this abstruse problem, how-’ 
,ever, yielded to keen interest in Mr. Holden's proceeds 
|ings. 

|j On the face of the map he located a number ot 
small wooden carvings, which were really very in-| 
genious. They represented churches, a hotel, a man- 
sion, three ordinary houses, a rambling building Hkc^ 
a public institution, and a nondescript structure dif-: 
ficult to classify. 

‘H find,^^ said Mr. Holden, when the mise-en-scen4 
was quite to his liking, ^‘that a good map, and a few, 
realistic models of the principal buildings dealt witli 
in my discourse, give a lucidity and a coherence other- 
wise foreign to the narrative.^^ 

Even Winter became restive under this style of ad- 
dress. Brett caught his eye, and moved by common 
impulse, they lessened the whisky-mark in a decanter 
of Antiquary. 

Allow me to remark,^’ interpolated Brett, ^that’ 
your telegrams were admirably terse and to the point.’'^ 
Thank you, sir. Many eminent judges have com- 
plimented me on my manner of giving evidence. And 
inow to business. I arrived at the railway station 
jhere (touching the nondescript building), ^^and took’ 

I a room in the Villa Nuova here’’ (he laid a finger o« 
(the mansion), which, as you see, is quite close to 
the Hotel de Londres here” (a flourish over the 
hotel), which as I expected, Mr. Capella took up 
his abode. According to your instructions, I obtained 
a competent assistant, a native of Naples, and we 
both awaited Mr. Capella’s arrival. He reached Na- 
ples at 10:30 a. m., the day following, my advent at 
night, and after breakfast drove straight to the Reclits- 
orio, or Asylum for the Poor, situated here” (he in- 


] 162 A ;apajshse kevenge 

i . 4 

:dicatea the institution), close to the Botanical Gar-^ 

'dens. Mr. Capella arranged with the authorities to 
; withdraw from the poorhouse an elderly woman 
'named Maria Bresciano. It subsequently transpired 
that she was a nurse employed by a certain English 
gentleman named Frazer Beechcroft, who became en-; 
tangled with a beautiful Italian girl named Margarita ! 
‘di Orvieto some twenty-eight years ago.^^ 
f Mr. Holden paid not the remotest attention to the: 
'looks of amazement exchanged between Brett and 
Winter. He merely paused to take breath and peer ; 
benignantly at the map, following lines thereon with| 
the index finger of his right hand. 

-It appears further, he resumed, ^that the English-| 
man and the Signorina di Orvieto could not marry, on; 
account of some foolish religious scruples held by the ■ 
yoimg lady, but they entertained a very violent passion' 
for each other, met clandestinely, and a female child . 
was born, whose baptism is registered, under the name : 
of Margarita di Orvieto, in the church of the village - 
of La Scutillo here.'^ (He tapped a tiny spired edi-j 
fice on the edge of the map.) 

^‘The tv/o were living there in great secrecy, as they 
were in fear of their lives, not alone from the young 
lady's relatives, but from her discarded lover, the 
Marcliese di Capella, father of the present Mr. Gio- 
vanni Capella, who has dropped his title in England. 
The old woman, Maria Bresciano, attended the sig-; 
norina and her child, but unfortunately the mother ^ 
died and her death is registered both by the civil au-^r 
thrnities in the Minadoi section here’^ (lifting a small ^ 
house bodily off the map), ^‘and by the ecclesiastical 
here^' (he touched another spire). 

‘•The affair created some stir in the Naples of that 
da}", but BeechcrofBs suffering, the calm daring with 
which., after the girhs death, he defied those who had 
vowed vengeance on liim, and the generally passion- 
ate nature of the attachment between the two, created 
%p,acn public sympathy for him. Among others who 


I A JAPANESE revenge 163 

r 

> were attracted to him were a Mr. a/id Mrs, Somers, 
and their daughter, then resident in Naples. Oddly, 
enough, Beechcroft did not content himself with se- 
I curing efficient care for his child, but brought, the 
> ; Infant to the Hotel de Londres~y ou note the coinci- 
>^dence— where it was nurtured under his personal 
l^saperyision/’ 

^ Brett drew a Icmg breath. So this was Margaret'^ 
secret 2uid Capella's vengeance! He was aroused, as ; 
jfrom a dream, by Mr. Holden’s steady voice. 

^ ^^Mr. Beechcroft always held that the Signorina di 
jOrvieto was his true wife in the eyes of Heaven, for 
i their marriage was only prevented by a most uncalled- 
-for and unnatural threat of incurring her father’s 
j dying curse if she dared to wed a Protestant Eighteen 
i months after her death he married Miss Somers at the 
(British Consulate, and revealed his real name and 
frank — Sir Alan Hume-Frazer, baronet, of Beechcroft, 
•near Stowmarket, England. His lady adopted the 
infant girl as her own, and local gossip had it that 
this was a part of the marriage contract, whilst the 
ceremony took place at an early date to give color to 
the kindly pretense. The pair lived in a distant 
suburb, at Donzelle here’’ (another cliurch fixed the 
spot), ^^and in twelve months a boy was born, birth 
registered locally and in the British Consulate. After 
f four more years’ residence in Naples, Sir Alan and 
|\Lady Httme-Frazer left Italy with their two children. 

I Mr. Capella found two of their old servants, Guiseppe 
I Conti and Lola Rintesano, living in these small houses 
f here and here” (the remaining houses were lifted into 
I prominence). 

^^Mr. Capella married Miss Margaret Hume-Frazer , 
m Naples last January, the marriage being properly ‘ 
registered. His estates are situated in the South of 
Italy, and his father retired thither permanently during 
the scandal that took place twenty-eight years ago. 
Mr. Capella has brought with him the persons named 
^ the nurse and servants^^ together with certified | 


164 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


copies of all the documents cited. I also have certified 
copies of those documents. I now produce them, to- 
gether with a detailed statement of my expenses. Mr. 
Capella is residing in a neighboring hotel.^’ j 

The methodical police-sergeant laid some neatl;^ 
docketed folios on the table near the map, and sat! 
down for the first time since entering the room. 

As a matter of fact, he had not uttered an unneces- 
sary word. Other men, describing similar compkx- : 
ities, would have given particulars of their adven- ^ 
tures, how this thing had been done, and that person 
wheedled into confidences. ^ 

Mr. Holden rose superior to these considerations.' 
His mission was all-important, and he had certainly 
fulfilled it to the letter. 

ever a grateful country makes me a judge, Mr. 
Holden/' said Brett, will add another to the en-^ 
comiums you have received from the Bench. Indeed, 
before this affair ends, that pleasant task may be per-’ 
formed by an existing judge, for I do not see how we 
are going to keep out of the law-courts. Do you. 
Winter?’^ 

Looks like a murder case plus a divorce,^^ com- 
mented the detective. 

'•^You are leaving out of count the biggest sensation, 
namely, the title ^ the Beechcroft estates. Under? 
her father's will, if it is very cleverly drawn, Mrs. 
Capella may receive i 1,000 per annum. She has rmt 
the remotest claim to Beechcroft and its revenues or 
to her brother's intestate estate.’^ 

Winter whistled. 

“My eyes!’^ he exclaimed. ^^What is Capella going 
to get out of it?^^ 

“Re\^nge ! His is a legacy of hate, like most other 
benefactions in the Hume-Frazer family. The nexi 
move rests with him. I wonder what it will be F’ 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


' 165 


CHAPTER XXV. 

3MR. AND MRS. JIRQ, 

i Srett drove to 17 St. John’s Mansions, Kensington, 
^ivliere Mr. and Mrs. Jiro were home.’^ They re- 
ceived him in the tiny drawing-room, and the lady's 
manner betokened some degree of nervousness, which 
she vainly endeavored to conceal by a pretense of 
bland curiosity as to the object of the barrister's visit. 

Not so Nimiagawa, whose sharp ferret eyes 
snapped with anxiety. 

Brett left them under no doubt from the commence- 
rnent. He addressed his remarks wholly to the Jap- 
anese. 

“You have an acquaintance — ^perhaps I should say 
confederate — residing at No. 37 Middle Street, Ken- 
nington ’’ he began, 

“I do not understand,’"' b/oke in Jiro, whose sallow 
face crinkled like a withered apple in the effort to dis- 
play noncomprehension. 

^ “Oh, yes, you do.^ The Man’s name is Ooma. He 
i. is a tall, strongly-built native Cxi Japan. He sent you 
j to Ipswich to watch the trial of Mr. David Hume- 
i Frazer for the murder of his cousin. He got you to 
J write the postcard to Scotland Ya^d on the typewriter 
f which you disposed of the day after my visit here. 

' .You recognized the motto of his house in the design 
which I showed you, and which was borne on the blade 
of the Ko-Katana. For some reason which I cannot 
fathom, unless you are his accomplice, you made your 
wife dress in male attire and go to warn him that 
some person was on his track. You see I know every- 
thing.” 


166 A JAPANESE REVENGE 

As each sentence of this indictment proceeded it 
was pitiable to watch the faces of the couple. Jiro 
became a grotesqr.e, fit to adorn the ugliest of Satsuma 
plaques. Mrs. jiro visibly swelled with agitation. Brett 
felt that she was too full, and would overflow with 
tears in an instant. 

^•This is vely bad!^^ gasped Jiro, 

^‘Oh, Nummie dear, have we been doing wrong 
moaned his spouse. 

The barrister determined to frighten them thor- 
oughly. 

*Tt is a grave question with the autiiorities whether 
they sliould not arrest you instantly,’^ he said, 

*^Oii what charge?’^ cried Jiro. 

^•Qn a charge of complicity after the act in relation 
to the murder of Sir Alan Hume-Frazer, Your ac- 
complice, Ooma, is the murderer.” 

^^Vvhat!” shrieked Mrs. Jiro, flouncing on to her 
knees and breaking forth into piteous sobs. ^^Oh, my 
precious inf ant! Oh, my darling Nummie i Will they 
part us from our babe?” 

The door opened, and a frowsy head appeared. 

^^Did you call, mum?” inquired the smoll maid-ser- 
vant. 

^^Get out!” shouted Brett; and tlie door slammed* 

^^Mr. Brett,” whimpered the Japanese, “I did not 
do this thing. I am innocent. I knew nothing about 
it until — until—” 

^^You verified the motto on the blade by consulting 
the 'Nihon Suai Shi' in the British Museum." 

This shot floored Jiro metaphorically, and his wife 
literally, for she sank into a heap. 

^Tle kno’vs everything, Nummie,” she cried 
'* ^‘Evelything!” repeated her husband. 

^^Then tell hiin the rest!” (Yet she was bom in Suf- 
leik.) 

f Brett scowled terribly as a subterfuge for laug^* 
teri 


A JAPANESE, REVENGE 


167 


*^Tell he said, you helped this amazing 

scoundrel ?"’ 

did not help,’^ squeaked Jiro, his voice becoming 
‘Shrill with excitement and fear, was my iliend. 

I He is a Samurai of Japan. We met in Okasaki, and 
(again in London. 1 came to England. long, after the 
I clime you talk of. He told me these Fiazei people 
[were bad people, who had lobbed his father in the old 
^ days. He wanted them to be all hanged, then he 
would get money. He said they might watch him and 
get him sent back to Japan, where he belongs to a 
political palty who are always beheaded v/hen 
they are caught. So when you come, I think, ‘Hello, 
he wants to find Ooma!' I lite Ooma a letter, rmd he 
lite me to send Mrs. Jilo, dlessed in man’s clothes, 
to tell him evelything. I did that to save my fliend.^^ 
‘‘Have you Oomas letter?’^ 

“Yes; hele it is.” 

He took a document from a drawer, and Brett saw" 
at a glance that Jiro’s statement was correct. 

“You appear to have acted as his tool throughout,” 
was his scornful comment. 

“But, Mr. Brett,” sobbed the stout lady, “I ought 
to say ^at when I — when I — put on those things — 
and met Mr. Ooma, I disobeyed my husband in one 
matter. I — liked you — ^and was afraid of Mr. Ooma, 
so instead of describing you to him I described Mr. 
Hume-Frazer from what my husband told me of his 
appearance in the dock. He was the first man I could 
think of, and it seemed to be best, as the quarrel was 
between them. Only — I gave him — a beard and mous- 
tache, so as to puzzle him more. Didn’t I, Nummie? 
I told you when I came home.” 

So Mrs. Jiro’s unconscious device had undoubtedVy 
saved Brett from a murderous attack, and Ooma had 
probably seen him leave the N or thumb erland Avenue. 
{Hotel more than once whilst waiting to waylay David 
Hume. Hence, too, the partial recognition by Ooma 
when they met by night in Middle Street. 


168 A JAPANESE REVENGE 

Thd barrister could not help being milder in tone 
as he said— 

believe you are both telling the truth. But this 
is a very serious matter. You must never again com- 
municate vrith Ooma in any way. Avoid him as you 
would shun the plague, for within three or four days 
he will be in gaol, and you will be called upon to give 
evidence against himi’* 


% JAPANESE REVENGB 


169 


CHAPTER XXVI. 

Margaret's secret. 

At his chambers Brett found Holden awaiting him, 
. with the tidings that Capella had gone to Whitby. The 
Utahan's agents, Messrs. Matchem & Smith, had evi- 
dently ferreted out Margaret's whereabouts. Her hus- 
band, full of vengeful thoughts and base schemings, 
hastened after her, rejoicing in the knowledge that her 
cousins and Miss Layton would also be present. 

^^As I knew exactly where he was going, and as- 
sumed his object to be a domestic quarrel, I did not 
think it necessary to accompany him until I had first 
consulted you, sir,’’ said the imperturbable Holden. 

Capella's conduct reminded him of a spiteful child 
which deserved a sound spanking. He telegraphed to 
Hume to inform him of the fiery visitor who might be 
expected at the hotel that evening. 

Oddly enough, Helen, David, and the Rev. Mr. 
Layton, tempted by a marine excursion to Scarbor- 
’ ough and back, left Whitby Harbor on a local steamer 
at 11 a. m., and were timed to return about 9 p. m. 
Margaret was not a good sailor, so Robert Hume- 
/ Frazer remained with her, the; two going for a pro- 
I tracted stroll along the cliffs. 

I During their walk, the golden influences of the hour 
unlocked Margaret's heart. She was overwhelmed 
with the consciousness of the wretched mistakes of 
her life. She could not help contrasting the manly, 
gallant, outspoken sailor by her side with the miserable 
foreigner whom she had espoused under the influence 
of a genuine but too violent passion. The knowledge 
that Robert might, under happier conditions, have 
been her husband was crushing and terrible. 


170 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


There came to her some half-defined resolve to 
show her cousin how unworthy slie was of his affec- 
tions. Stopping defiantly at a moment when he cas- 
ually called her attention to. a lovely glimpse of rock- 
bound sea framed in a deep gorge, she said to him— 

^'Robert, I have something to tell you. I was on the 
point of telling Mr. Brett the last time I saw him in 
London, but he would not permit it. You are my 
cousin, and ought to known’^ 

“My dear girl/’ he cried, “why this solemnity? You 
give me shivers wdieo you speak in that way!” 

‘‘Pray listen to me, Robert. This is no matter for 
jesting. I am your cousin, but only in a sense. In the 
eyes of the law I am a nameless outcast. My mother 
was not Alan’s mother. I was born before my father 
married the lady who treated me as her daughter until 
her death. My mother was an Italian, who died at 
my birth, and whom my father never mat ded.” 

Frazer looked at the beautiful woman who ad- 
dressed these astonishing words to him, and amaze- 
ment, incredulity, a spasm almost of fear, held him 
dumb. 

“ It is too true, Robert. I did not know these things 
until a few short months ago. Some one, I believe, 
told my husband the truth soon after our marriage, 
and it was this discovery that so changed his feelings 
towards me. At" first I was utterly unable to explain 
the awful alteration in his attitude. Not until I re- 
turned to England and settled down at Beechcroft did 
I become aw^are of the facts.” 

“Surely, Rita, you are romancing?” 

“No, there can be no doubt about it. I have seen 
the proofs.” ; 

“Proofs! How can you be certain? Who made 
these statements to you ?” 

“I have been blackmailed, bled systematically for 
large sums of money. At first I was beguiled into a 
correspondence. My curiosity was aroused by refer- 
^ces to my husband and to my father's will. Finally, 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


171 

I received copies of documents which made matters 
clear even to my bewildered brain. More than that. 
. I was sent a memorandum, written by my father, in 
which he gave Alan all the particulars, corroborated 
by extracts from registers, and explaining the reasons 
i which actuated him in framing his will so curiously. 
\We were never closely knit together, as you know. I 
think now that he regarded me as the living evideiice 
, of the folly of his earlier years, and perhaps my sensi* 
* tive nature was quick to detect this hidden feeling.” 

^‘May I ask who blackmailed you?” 

Robert's face grew hard and stern. The woman 
experienced a tumultuous joy as she saw it She had 
at least one defender. 

^‘That is the hard part of my story,” she mm- 
mured, in a voice broken with emotion. ^‘The corres- 
pondence took place with a man named Ooma, a per- 
son I never even met at that time, and— can you be- 
lieve it, Robert — ^within the past few days I have good 
reason to know that he is the murderer of my brother,, 
the man who endeavored to kill both you and David,” 

Frazer caught her by the shoulder. 

^^Rita,” he said, ^^what has come to vou? Are you 
hysterical, or dreaming ?” 

^‘Oh, for pity's sake> believe me!” she moaned.. 
^^Mr. Brett knows it is true. What is worse, he knows 
that I know it. I cannot bear this terrible secret any 
longer. I went to this man's house in London the 
.other night, and boldly charged him wdth the crime, 

' He denied it, but I could see the He and the fear in his 
1 eyes. To avoid a terrible family scandal I came here 
I with you all. But I can bear it no longer. God help 
^ me and pity me 1” 

“He will, Margaret. You have done no wrong 
tliat deserves so much suffering.” 

For a little while there was silence. Frazer was 
only able to whisper gentle and kindly words of con- 
solation. He would have given ten years of his life 
to have the right to take her in his arms and tell Her 


172 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


that, let the world view her conduct as it ^vould, in his 
eyes she was blameless and lovable. 

But this was denied him. She w^as the wife of 
another, of one who instead of shielding and support- 
ing her, was even then engaged in plotting her ruin. f 
nearly went mad/^ she continued at last, ^^w'hen | 
I first became acquainted with the truth concerning 
niy parentage. With calmer moments came the re- 
flection that, after all, I was my father’s child, the 
sister of Alan, and entitled morally, if not legally, to 
succeed to the property. My wealth has not bene- 
fited me, Robert, but at least I have tried to do good 
to others.” 

‘^You have, indeed,” he said tenderly, ^‘But tell me 
about this fiend, Ooma. You say you saw him. Then 
you were in possession of his address ?” 

‘'Yes, during the past five months. When Mr. Brett 
first appeared on the scene, I feared lest he should 
discover my secret. How could I connect it with the 
death of my brother? The explanation given to me 
was that the documents were purloined by a servant 
years ago. It was not until the attacks on you and 
Davie, and the chance mention he made of some curi- 
ous marks in a typewritten communication received 
by Mr. Winter, that a horrible suspicion awoke in 
my mind. I had received several typewritten letters” 
|(Mr. Jiro, it would appear, had not told ‘‘ everything” 
to Brett), ‘‘and I compared some of those in London f 
with the description given by Davie. They corr€s-| 
ponded exactly ! Then I resolved to make sure, no mat- • 
ter what the risk to myself, so I went to a place in ' 
Kennington the last night we were in town, and there 
I saw Ooma. Oh, Robert, he is so like you and Davie 
^ that at first it seems to be a romance ! Only you tw^o 
look honest and brave, whereas he has the appearance 
of a demon.” 

Frazer looked at his watch, 

“Brett ought to know all these things at once,” he 
said. “Let us walk back to the hotel and wdre him. 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 173 ' 

Perhaps it will be necessary for David and me to 
turn to London immediately.’^ 

Why ? You are safe here. Why should you incufi 
further risk?” 

He could not help looking at her. A slight colofi^ 
suifused her face. Then he laughed savagely. 

There will be no risk, Rita. Once let me meefi 
Mr. Ooma as man to man and I will teach him a 
trick or two, if only for your sake. The law will 
j deal with him for Alan’s affair. He has an odd name ! 

I It has a Japanese ring, yet you say he resembles our 
^family?” 

Margaret, of course, could only describe him ini 
general terms. As they returned to the hotel she ex- 
plained her strange story in greater detail, largely 
on the lines already known to Brett. 

In the office they found a telegram addressed tQt 
David, but his cousin opened it, believing it might 
from Brett. It was, and read as follows — 

^‘Capella arrives Whitby five o’clock. I know eveiy- 
thing he has to tell you. If he becomes offensive, 
boot him.” 

Robert did not show the message to his cousin. He 
gave her its general purport, and added — Prepare 
yourself for an ordeal, but be brave. Perhaps your 
husband is in the hotel now, as he must have reached 
here half an hour ago.” 

He had barely uttered the words when Mrs. Ca-; 
; i^ella’s maid approached. j 

I '‘Mr. Capella is here, madam,” she said, *^and awaits: 
you in your sitting-room.” 

Margaret became, if possible, a shade whiter. 

'^What about you, Robert?” she whispered. 

^^Me! I am going with you. Brett’s telegram is my*] 
authority,” 


A JAFANliSii- 


CHAPTER XXVIL 


^USBANl> AN0 WIFE. 


^ The Italian was glaring out of a window ’whea^Href- 
^mered the room. 

He turned instantly, with a waspish* ferocity. 

“So, madam/* he cried, ^*not content with deceiving 
tne from the first moment we met, you have left your 
home in company with your lover!'’ 

Margaret looked at Robert beseechingly. The; 
jailor's face w-as like granite. Only his eyes flashed a 
warning that Capella might have noted were he less 
blinded by passion. 

“Do not attempt to shield yourself by the presence 
of others screamed Capella. “I know that Miss Lay- 
. ton and her father are here. That is part of the game 
■ you play. As for you, Mr. David Hume, or whatever , 
; you call yourself, your own record is not so clean that 
you should endeavor to cloak the misdeeds of others/* 
/ The Italian had never before seen Robert to his' 
) know^Iedge. He only met David for a fevv’ moments' 
IVluring an angry scene at Beechcroft, w^hen Brett did; 
I rnost of the talking. The mistake lie now 



; a natural one. 


“It does not occur to you/’ said Robert, in a voice | 
V remarkable for its calmness, “that not content with' 
grossly insulting your wife, you are attacking the 
f reputation of a man whom you do not know.” i 
“Pooh!” Capella, in liig excitement, snapped his 
fingers. “You Hume-Frazers are very fond of de- 
fending your reputations. A fig for them! You are 
rot W'Orthy to consort with honorable people. I feel 
v^oSiircd that when Mr. Layton and his daughter knowi. 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


173 ' 

thei truth about you they will decline to associate witli 
you7^ ^ 

Whatever else might be urged against the Italian, 
he was no coward. Such language might well have 
led to a fierce attack on him by a man so greatly his^ 
superior in physical strength* But Robert sat dowt!, 
near the door. 

^^You have some object in coming here today/' lie 
said. What is it?” ^ 

Margaret remained standing near the fire-placej 

Capella produced a bundle of papers. ^ 

am here,” he said, ^^to unmask the wornau 
who unfortunately bears my name, and at the same 
time prevent you from getting Miss Layton to marry 
you under false pretenses."' 

worthy programme 1” observed Frazer sttavelvA 
^‘You may attain the second part of your scheme, i 
admit, but the first seems to be difficult” 

^‘Isit? We shall see!” ' 

Capella flourished his papers and began a passionate 
avowal of the ‘‘treachery” practised on him in the mat- 
ter of Margaret's parentage, ending by saying-—* ^ 
^‘That woman's mother was the affianced bride ol 
my father. She deceived him basely. On his death-bed 
: he made me vow my lifelong hatred of her betrayeis 
and all his descendants. To you, a cold-blooded Eng^ 
iishman, that perhaps means nothing. To me it i^ 

I sacred, imperishable, dearer than life. And to think 
jthat I have been tricked into a marriage with lUe 
daughter of the man wlio was my father's enemy. ' 
JHow mad I was not to make inquiries! What a poor, 
I siiort-sighted fool ! But I will have my revenge ! J 
will expose your accursed race in the courts! I wilt 
not rest content until I am free from this snare !” 4 

Margaret would have spoken, but her cousin quickly 
forestalled her. - ; . ^ i 

You bring two charges against your wife,” Robert 
said. ‘^The first is that she deceived you before mar- 
riage ; the second that she is deceiving you iiow% 


176 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


contemplate taking divorce proceedings against herr’^ 
do.’' 

^^But you are lying on both counts. There is no 
purer or more honorable woman alive today than she 
who stands here at this moment. You are a mean and ? 
despicable hound to endeavor to take advantage ofr 
circumstances attending her birth of which she was in 
profound ignorance.” 

‘^She can tell that to a judge,” sneered the Italian, 
know better.” 

Robert rose, his face white with anger. 

‘^Margaret,” he said, ^^you have heard your precious 
husband’s views with regards to you. .What do you 
say?” 1 

She looked from one to the other — no one knows 
what tumultuous thoughts coursed through her brain 
in that trying moment — and she answered — ) 

am his true and faithful wife, Robert. I have 
never been otherwise in word or deed.” ? 

Capella started, as well he might, when he heard 
the Christian name of the man who was treating him 
with such quiet scorn. 

^^So,” he laughed maliciously, have again been 
fooled. You are not David, but ” ^ 

Frazer strode towards him, and the words died 
away on his lips. 

^^Listen, you blackguard!” he hissed. ^^Were it not ,, 
for the presence of your wife I would choke thei 
miserable life cut of you. Go! We have done witK " 
3-ou! You have unmasked your real character, and 
1 cannot believe that a spark of affection can remain ^ 
in your wife’s heart for you after your ignoble con-, 
duct. Go, I tell you! Do your worst. Spit yourj 
venom elsewhere than in this hotel. But first let me' 
warn you. If you dare to approach Miss Layton, t 
I cannot promise that my cousin David will treat you 
a -, tenderly as I propose to do. He will probably 
thrash you until you are unconscious. I simply place 
you OUisiQG rnis loom.” j 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


m 

He grabbed the Italian by the breast with his right 
hand, lifted him high in the air, gathered the papers 
from the table in his left hand, and carried his kick- 
\kig, cursing, but helpless adversary to the door. 

Then he set him down again, opened the door, and 
I remembering Brett’s advice, assisted him outside, fling- 
ing the documents after him and closing the door. 

With impotent rage in his heart, Capella rushed 
from the hotel and caught the last train to the south. 
He had not been in Whitby two hours, but he was now 
embarked upon his vengeful mission, and bitterly re- 
solved to push it to the uttermost extremity. 

Margaret had not uttered a sound during the final 
scene. She stood as one turned to stone. Robert 
did not dare to speak to her. How could he offer, 
consolation to a woman whose tenderest feelings had 
been so wantonly outraged? 

. Robert,’^ she said at last, ^^he spoke of getting a 
divorce. I believe he can do this by Italian Jaw. Here 
it should be impossible.’’ 

^Hn that case,” he said calmly, ^^you and I will go 
and live in Italy.” 

I She placed her hands before her face, and burst into 
a tempest of tears. 

p ^^Now, my dear girl,” he murmured, ^^try and for- 
get that pitiful rascal and his threats. You are well 
rid of him. I will leave you now for a little while. 
I In half an hour we will go and listen to the band until 
i dinner. Really, we have had a most enjoyable after- 
|noon.” 

I He went out, placid and smiling, and Margaret 
if sobbed plentifully — until it became necessary to go to 
her room and remove the traces of her grief. So it 
■ may be assumed that her tears were not all occasioned 
by grief for the contemplated loss of her ill-chosen 
mate. . 

* When the others returned from their excursion, 
Frazer explained to them all that was needful with 
Reference to Capella’s visit. Helen was very out- 


1/8 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


spol<€n in her indignation, and even the rector cOii- 
demned the Italian’s conduct in plain terms. 

He warmly approved of the resolution arrived at by 
Robert and David to return to London next day, and 
not leave Brett until a definite stage had been reached 
in the strangely intricate inquiry on which they were 
embarked, 

They sat late into the night, discussing the pros' 
and cons of the situation; yet among these five people, 
fully cognizant as they were of nearly every fact 
known to the able barrister who had taken charge of 
their aflfairs, not one even remotely guessed the pend- 
ing sequel. j 

Whilst they were talking and hoping for some fav- 
orable outcome, the night express from York was 
hurrying Capella to a weird conclusion of his efforts 
to discredit his wife. Had he but known what lay 
before him he would have left the train at the first 
station and hastened to Margaret, to grovel at her 
feet and beg her forgiveness for tiie foul aspersions 
cast upon her. 

It was too late* 


A JAPANISSE KEVEKGS 




. CHAPTER XXVin. 

/ 

TO BEECHCROFT. 

Thenoefortli, as the French say, events "fnarched.l 
l^obert Frazer faithfully recounted Margaret's state- ■ 
ment to the barrister and the detective. The ^^docu- j 
ments/^ copies of which Ooma sent to the ill-fated 
woman whose sudden accession to wealth had proved 
so unlucky for her, were evidently those stolen from 
the drawer in the writing-desk at Beechcroft. i 

Here, at last was the motive of the m'4rder laid 
bare, j 

The Japanese, by some inscrutable means, became 
aware that the young baronet possessed these papers, 
and held them in terrorem over his reputed sister. In 
the hands of a third person, an outsider, they were en- 
dowed with double powers for mischief. He^ could 
threaten the woman with exposure, the man with th^ 
revelation of a discreditable family secret. I 

He visited the library in order to commit the theft, ■ 
probably acting with greater daring because he mis- 
took the sleeping David for his cousin. Having suc- 
cessfully wrenched open the drawer and secured the 
papers, still holding in his hand the instrument used 
for slipping back the tiny lock, he turned to leave the 
room by the open window, and was suddenly con- 
fronted by the real Sir Alan, who recognized him 
and guessed his object on being present at that hour, 
Brett had gone thus far in his spoken commentary 
m the affair as it now presented itself to his? mind 
vyhen Winter asked — 

Why do you say Recognized' him, Mr. Brett ? We 
Save no evidence that Sir Alan had ever seen , 


i80 A JAPANESE revenue 

A 

fe'What! none? Search through your memory. Did^ 
not the station-master see a third David Hume leave ! 
the station that day when the movements of only two ' 
are known to us? What became of this third per-j^,:., 
sonage during the afternoon ? Where did he change 
into evening dress? Why did Sir Alan leave docu- * 
ments of such grave importance in so insecure a hid- j 
ing- place 

‘‘There is no use in asking me questions I can^t ‘ 
answer/’ snapped the detective. ^ 

“Perhaps not. I think you said that you amused 
yourself in your Middle Street lodgings by taking to 
pieces a small electrical machine fitted together by 
your companion?” 

“Yes, sir; but what of that?” 

“Let us suppose that, instead of a complex machine 
he built a small arch of toy bricks, and you were well 
acquainted with the model, whilst each brick was 
numbered in rotation, don’t you think you could man- 
age to reconstruct the arch after repeated efforts ?” ; 

“I expect so.” 

“Well, my dear Winter, we have now got together 
every material stone in our edifice. Mrs. Capella’s 
yielding to blackmail is the keystone of the arch. 
Every loose block fits at once into its proper place. 

The Tapanese, Ooma, must have met Sir Alan and 
discujsed this very question with him. The baronet 
must have unwittingly revealed the family secret, and 
the Jap was clever enough to perceive its value. 
Further, the murder was unpremeditated, the inspira- / ^ 
tion of a desperate moment, and the weapon selected I 
shows a sort of fiendish mandate suggested by family ^ 

feud. Ooma is undoubtedly ” 'I 

Here Smith entered, apologetic, doubtful. ^ 

“Mr. Holden is here, sir, and says he wishes Bl 
see you immediately.” ^ 

Holden’s news was important Capella had leffi 
Liverpool Street half an hour ago for Beechcroft, and 
in the same train traveled Ooma. 


A JAPANESE REVENGE - 181 

‘‘Are yo^ sure of this?'- demanded Brett, excitedly 
springing from his chair, 

“Quite certain, sir. Mr. Winter’s mate followed 
him to the station, and told me who the Japanese was. 
’Besides, no one could mistake him who had ever seen 
^^either of these two gentlemen.’^ . 
j He indicated Robert and David. 

I “Quick,’’ shouted the barrister. “We must all catcli 
I the next train to Stowmarket. Winter, have you your 
^ handcuffs? This time they may be needed. Smith, 
^run and call two hansoms.” 

He rushed to a bureau and produced a couple of re- 
volvers. He handed one to Holden. 

“I can trust you,” he said, “not to fire without 
reason. Do not shoot to kill. If this man threatens 
the life of any person, maim him if possible, but try to 
avoid hitting him in the head or body.” 

To the Frazers he handed the heaviest sticks he pos- 
sessed. He, himself, pocketed the second revolver, 
and picked up the peculiar walking-stick which Ooma 
dropped in Northumberland Avenue. 

“Now,” he said, “let us be off. We have no time 
to lose, and we must get to Beechcroft with the ut- 
most speed.” 

, Winter and he entered the same hansom. 

‘■'Why are you so anxious to prevent Capella and 
Ooma meeting, sir?” asked the detective, as their 
vehicle sped along Victoria Street, 
j “I do not care whether they meet or not,” was the 
: emphatic reply. “It is now imperatively necessary 
A that the Japanese should be placed where he can do 
'1^ no further harm. The man Is a human tiger. He must 
be caged. If all goes well. Winter, this case will pass 
out of my hands into yours within the next thr^ 
hours.” 

The detective smiled broadly. At last he saw his 
way clearly, or thoupjit he saw it, which is often 
not quite the same thing. In the present instance he 
Kttle dreamed the nature of the path he would follow. 


182 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


Blit He was SO gratified that he could not long maln\ 
tain silence, though Brett was obviously disineMned] 
to talk. i 

JoveB’ he gurgled, “this will be tiie case of the 

The barrister replied not. 

“I suppose, Mr. Brett, continued Winter, with, 
well-affected concern, “you will follow your usual 1 
ffolicy, and decide to keep your connection with the afc | 
fair hidden I 


“Exactly, and you will follow your usual policy of 
claiming all the credit under the magic of the words 
^from information received.’ ” 

Winter could afford to be generous. 

“Mr. Brett,’’ he cried, “there is no man who would 
He so pleased as I to see you come out of your shell, 
and ten the court all you have done. You deserve 
it. It would be the proudest moment of your life.’’ 
The barrister laughed. ! 

“You have known me for years, Winter,” he said, 
“yet you believe that. Go to! You are incorrigible!” 

The detective did not trouble to extract the exact 
meaning from this remark. He understood that Brett 
would never think of entering the witness-box. That 
was all that he wanted to know. \ 

“Are you quite certain,” he asked, with a tinge 
of anxiety in his voice, “that Ooma will be arrested 
today?” ^ I 

“Quite certain, if we can accomplish that highly;' 
desirable task.” | 

Winter pounded the door of the hansom with hi$i 
fist. . I 


“Then it is donel” he cried. “I’ll truss him up like . 
a fowl. If he tries any tricks I’ll borrow the leg-, 
chains from Stowmarket police station.” i 

At Liverpool Street they all made a hasty meal. • 
-They caught the last train from London and passed 
weary hours until Stowmarket was reached. 




A JAPANESE REVENGE 183 

j Thfere on the platform stood the station-master. 
[He approached Brett and whispered — 

man who came here by the preceding train told 
me that you and some other gentlemen might possibly 
follow on. He intended to telegraph to you, but he 
asked me, in case you turned up, to tell you that the 
Japanese has gone on foot to Beechcroft, and that Mr, 
Capella has not arrived/^ 

‘‘Not arrived!’’ cried Brett. He turned to Holden. 
*“Can you have been mistaken ?” 

Holden shooTc his head. “I saw him with my own 
eyes/^ he asseverated, “and to make sure of his desti- 
nation, I asked the ticket examiner wheie the gentle- 
man in the first smoker was going to. It was Stow- 
market, right enough.” 

“There can be no error, sir,” put in the station- 
master. “Mr. Capella's valet came by the train and 
assured me that he left JLondon with his master. Be- 
sides, the carriage is here from the Hall. It was 
ordered by telegraph. There is the valet himself. He 
imagines that Mr. Capella quitted the train on the 
[ way, and will arrive by this one. But there is no 
sign of him.” 

[ The mention of the carriage brought a look of de- 
idsion into the barrister’s face. 

I “One more question,” he said to the official. “Did 
I you see the person described as the Japanese?” 

I “Yes, sir, I did. As a matter of fact, I thought it 
was somebody else. It was not until the stranger who 
[arrived by the train used that name to distinguish 
,|him that I understood I was mistaken.” 

The station-master looked into Brett’s eyes that 
which he did not like to say in the presence of the 
[ Frazers. Of course, he had fallen into the same error 
I as most people who only obtained a casual glimpse of 
i Ooma. 

I Brett hurried his_ companions outside the station, 
i There they found the Beechcroft carriage, and a puz- 
l^zled valet holding parley with the coachman and foot- 


184 


4 JAPANESE REVENGE 


man. David Hume’s authority was sufficient to se- 
cure the use of the vehicle, and Brett made the posi- 
tion easier for the men by saying that, in all proba- 
bility, they would find fresh instructions awaiting 
them at the Hall. , 

Before tlie party drove off Winter noticed a local 
sergeant of police standing near. : 

Shall I ash him to come with us, sir?” he said to 
Brett. ^ 

The barrister considered the point for an instant \ 

before replying — 

Perhaps it would be better, as we have not got a 
warrant.” 

Winter grinned broadly again. 

^^Oh yes, we have,” he cried. '^^Mr. Ooma’s war- 
rant has been in my breast-pocket for three days.” 

^^What a thoughtful fellow you are!” murmured 
Brett ^Hn that case we can dispense with local as- 
sistance. We five can surely tackle any man living.” 

^^What can have become of Capella?” said David 
Hume, when they were all seated and bowling along 
the road to Beechcroft 

^Ht is impossible to s?y what such a mad ass would 
be up to,” commented his cousin. ^^He has probably 
gone back to London from some wayside station, and 
failed to find his servant to tell him before the train 
moved on.” ^ . . V 

^^What do you think, Mr. Brett?” inquired Winter.! 
can form no opinion. I only wish Ooma was! 
in gaol. For once, Winter, I appreciate the strength! 
of your handcuffing policy.” 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


183j 


CHAPTER XXm 

THE FIGHT. 

It was almost dark by the time they reached the 
lodge gates. Brett, moved by impulse, stopped the 
carriage in the main road. The others alighted after 
him. Mrs. Crowe, the lodge-keeper’s wife, opened 
the gates, and evidently wondered why the carriage 
cfid not enter. I 

Good evening, Mrs. Crowe,’’ said Brett, advancing. 
^^Have you seen a telegraph messenger recently?” 

^^Lawk, sir,” she cried, “I didn’t recognize you in 
the gloom ! No, sir, there’s been no messenger, only — ” 
Then she uttered a startled exclamation. 

^^Why, there’s Mr. David an’ Mr. Robert! I could 
ha’ sworn one of you gentlemen walked up to the 
house five minutes ago, an’ I wunnered you never took 
no notice of me. Well, of all the strange things !” 

was a natural mistake,” said the barrister. 

I quietly. j 

j Then he told the coachman to wait where he was’ 
until a message reached him from the house. 

I He did not want to disturb the visitor who had 
I caused Mrs. Crowe to ^^wunner,” nor was there any 
I use in sending the carriage back to Stowmarket. 

I Somehow he felt that Capella would not come to 
^ Beechcroft that night. ^ i 

The five men w’^ent rapidly and silently up the ave- 
nue. As they approached the lighted library they 
could see a servant parleying with the Japanese. 

A motion of Brett’s hand brought the party into the 
shade of the somber yews. 


1.86 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


^^You and Holden/^ he said to Hmne, round 
to the main entrance, proceed at once to the library 
door, enter the room, and lock the door behind you. 
®e ready with your stick, and do not hesitate to lunge/ 
hard if Ooma attacks. you. You, Holden, keep the 
revolver handy. It must only be used to save life. 
The moment you appear at the door we will rush to 
the window, which is open. Ooma must have entered 
that way. You both understand?^’ 

They nodded and walked off, clinging to the line of 
the trees. The others closed up. Timing their ap- 
proach with perfect judgment, they crept over the 
graveled road at the bend, and gained the turf in 
front of the window. 

Ooma*s back was towards them. They could hear 
his voice — -a queer, high-pitched, yet strident voice— 
wliilst he questioned a somewhat scared footman as to 
the whereabouts of his mistress. 

The man had evidently perceived the remarkable 
resemblance borne by this uncanny stranger to the 
Frazer family. His replies were respectful, but stut- 
tering. He was alarmed by those fierce eyes, more 
especially because his inability to give satisfactory in- 
formation seemed to anger the new-comer. 

^^You are not a child,” they heard Ooma say, wth 
^iCnace in his tone. You must have heard, from lier 
maid or some other source, where Mrs. Capella /las ^ 
gone to?” 

— ^no, sir,” stammered the man. redly 
^aven’t. I t — ‘t — ^thought Mrs. C — Capella was in 
'^London. The b — ^butler says we arc all to ’at e a 
’oliday next week.” ^ 

there no way in which I can find out where 
your mistress is at this moment ? I must see her. My 
business is important. It cannot wait. It is of the ut- 
most importance to her.” i 

Brett, straining without , like a hound in the leash, 
could note a slight accentuation in the perfect E^glisl' 


A JAPANESE REVENGS 


187 


spoken by 'Ooma. There was just a suspicion of the 
liquid so strongly marked in Jiro's utterance 
iWhat an uncanny thing is heredity! It even alters 
the shape of the roof of the mouth. The Japanese o^ 
English descent could necessarily pronounce English 
better than the pure-born native. 

, The servant within seemed to rack his brain for 
,'a favorable reply, 

I ^^You might ask Mr. Capella, sir/^ he said at 
3 length, with some degree of returning confidence. 
^‘He was expected here by the last train, but missed 
it in London, I expect. He is sure to come to-night, 
and he will tell you, if you care to wait.’^ 

‘‘Mr. Capella! Coming by the last train! What h 
he like 

“Do you mean in appearance, sir? He is a small., 
dark-complexioned gentleman, with wavy black hair 

and a very pale face. He ” 

But Ooma turned away from the man and looked 
through the window, with the lambent glare of a 
wild animal in his eyes. He instantly saw the three 
motionless figures, Brett, Winter, and Robert Hume* 
Frazer. 

l They sprang forward. Robert was quickest, and 
reached the open window first. The Japanese jumped 
back and made for the door, but it opened in his face^ 

, and David entered the room. Behind him vv^as Holden, 

: who made no secret of the fact that he carried a re- 
1 volver. 

^ Ooma caught the astonished man-servant by the 
: waist, lifted him as though he were a truss of straw, 

I and threw him bodily at Robert Frazer and Wiiiler, 
i bringing both to the ground by this singular weapon. 
y It was a fatal mistake to attadc the readiest nicani 
I of exit. Had he used his human battering-ram against 
j-Holderi and David he might have escaped. But now 
[he looked into the muzzle of anotlier revolver, and 
i heardBretf deniantf^ 


188 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


Hands up, Ooma! If you move you are a dead 
man 

Nevertheless, he did move. He seemed to have 
the agility as well as the semblance of a carnivorous 
animal. He bounded sideways toward the wall of 
the library, picked up the writing-desk, and barricaded: 
himself behind it. In the same second he produced 
a small, shining article from his waistcoat pocket, and ■ 
shouted, in a voice now cracked with rage — 

Stand ba:k, all of you. You may shoot me! I will ^ 
not be arrested!^’ 

Winter, swearing, scrambled from the floor. Rob- 
ert, too, threw off the yelling servant and rose to his 
feet. Alarmed not only by the curious entry made by 
David Hume and Holden, but also by the racket m 
the library, other servants were now clamoring at 
the locked door, for Holden had slipped his left 
hand behind him and turned the key. Brett 
ilarly closed the window. They were five to one, but 
the one seemed to defy them. 

^^That be blowed for a tale!” roared the infuriated 
detective, whose blood was fired by the manner in 
which he had been floored. arrest you in the 
King’s name for the murder of Sir Alan Hume-Fra- 
zer, and I warn you ” 

Robert Hume-Frazer waited for no preliminary ex- 
planation of an official character. He wanted to feel 
that man’s bones crack under his grasp. He had the 
strong man’s ambition to close with an opponent 
worthy of his thews and sinews. Without any warn- 
ing, he made for the Japanese, who seemed to await: 
his oncoming with singular equanimity, though other- 1 
wise quivering with balked hate. 

But Brett had seen something that aroused a light- 
ning-like suspicion. Twice had the Japanese looked at 
a small, shining thing in his hand as though to make 
sure it was there. So the barrister w^as just in time to 
grasp Robert’s shoulder and hold him back. 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 189 

he cried, ^^you must not touch him. I com-^ 
mand it. He cannot escape/’ 

^^Then let me have a go at him first,” growled 
Frazer, whose face was pale with passion. 

no. Leave him to me. Winter, do you Iieafi 
me? Stand back, I say.” 

I Brett’s imperative tone brooked no disobedience^ 
Thus in a segment of a circle, the five enclosed the^ 
one against the wall — Ooma barricaded by the table, 
the others ready to defeat any stratagem he might en- 
deavor to put in force. 

^'Now listen to me, Ooma,” said the barrister* 
sternly. ^^You must drop that thing you have in your 
right hand. You must hold both your hands high' 
above^ your head. If you move either of them again 
I will shoot you. If you do not obey me oefore I; 
count five I will shoot you. One! Two! Three — ” 
The Japanese, gasping a horrible sort of sob, thred 
times plunged the instrument he held into his left 
arm. Then he flung it straight at Robert. One would 
have thought his vengeance would be directed against 
Brett, whom he must have credited by this time with 
his capture. i 

No; he singled out a Hume-Frazer for his last at-| 
tack. The instrument struck a button on Robert’s 
coat and fell to the floor, where it lay twisted out of 
shape by the foBce of the impact. - 

It was a hypodermic syringe. 

Again Ooma uttered that weird cry. , 

j ^^This'is the end,” he said. ^‘You have not beaten 
me. It is Fate.” ^ 


A JAPANESE RKVENSa 


diSQ 


CHAPTER XXX, 

Doha’s story. 


f 


Ooma; folded his arms and looked at them, 3! 
^change came over his face. He was no longer a tiger 
at bay, but a human being, calm, dignified, Smost im- 
f^ressive. 

arrest you — began Winter. 

^*You fool!” laughed the Japanese, vvitH a quiet 
contempt in his tone. shall be dead in twenty min- 
utes, That syringe contained snake poison, the undi- 
luted venom of the karait. Put away your pistols. 
They are not wanted.” 

Quite nonchalantly he leaned back against the book- 
case that lined the wall. He turned his eyes to Robert 
You have the luck of your race,” he said. ‘Tf that 
.point had reached your skin no human skill co»’td have^ 
^aved you. As it is, you are spared, and I must ga, 
The same blood flows in our veins, yet you are my 



“Come from behind that table and try,” was the 
quick rejoinder. ( 

Ooma made to accept the challenge, but Brett inter-! 
vened. I 

“If you are telling the truth,” he said, *^you can.' 
spend your brief remaining span of life to better pur^ ■ 
pose than in a mad combat with one who has done 
you no harm. Where is Capella?” 

“I killed him,” was the cool reply. 

The footman, who had slowly regained his senses, 
r^ttered a groan of horror. By this time several men^ 


x\ JAPANESE IRETENGm 


191 


not alone house servants, but grooms, and others, had 
gathered on the lawn. ^ 

^‘Send away that slave/’ cried Ooina impatiently, 
\^^and tell Ao«e others to go to their kennels. This is, 
_|no place for such.” 4 

Brett knew that the Japanese was in truth about to 
[die. Afterwards Winter and Holden confessed that 
I they thought the pretense of injecting snake poison 
I was a mere ruse to gain time. Robert and David in- ; 
'tuitivety agreed with the barrister. It was in their 
breed to know when eternity yawned -for one of them. 
The very calmness of the criminal, his magnificent 
apathy, his dislike of vulgar witnesses, foreboded a 
tragedy. | 

Brett motioned to Holden to open the door, and the 
footman gladly made his escape. In response to a 
wave of the barrister’s arm the other ser/ants disap-: 
peared from view, though they probably only retreated 
to a greater distance, and could see well enough alt ^ 
that happened. . - - 4 

^^Yes,” continued Ooma, ^‘1 killed Capella* It 
a mistake. Evesy thing is a mistake. It was foolish ^ 
on my part to 1^1 Afesi Httaee-FmaSir, though ; 
he was my enem^^ I 1^ him live and tor-| 

tured him by fear. You English dread these scandab j 
worse than death. We Japanese fear neither. For l| 
i am a Japanese, and I am proud of it, although my ; ' 
^ ancestor was David Hume of Glen Tochan, whoj 

1 " fought and killed the man who robbed his father.” - 
‘‘But how and why did you kill Capella?” asked 
Brett. T 

“I saw him in the station at London. Fie followedr 
me. I puzzled him, I suppose. He perceived 
likeness between me and my dear cousins. Wc aise J 
like one another, are we not, we Hume-Frazers?” | 
He laughed mirthlessly, and stared at David ancL' 
Robert alternately. Winter broke in with a hastyl 
question — * ^ 


a92 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


lie is speaking the truth about the snake poison, 
ishouldn't we send for a doctor 

No one had thought of this previously. Brett re- 
proached himself for his forgetfulness. So strange 
are our civilized notions that we strive to save a msui’s 
life in order to hang him by due process at law. 

It was Ooma who answered. 

‘^Doctor he cried. Bring him ! Bring the whole 
College of Surgeons. They can watch me die, and 
tell you learnedly why the blood curdles and the heart 
refuses to act, but not all their science can beat the 
^enom of the little karait. It is an Indian snake more 
'deadly than the cobra, with mightier tooth than the 
.tiger. I meant to use that syringe on the whole 
icursed brood of Frazers in this country. No one 
would have known what happened to them. But look 
you, Fate is too powerful. The karait stored his 
poison for me only. I killed only one of the race and 
him I stabbed with a Ko-Katana of my own house.^^ 
Holden left the room to send a messenger post-haste 
'for the village doctor. 

^ About Capella?’’ persisted Brett. 

^ ^^Ah, Capella. He sought his own death. He 
looked at me so oddly that I thought him a spy. I 
was alone in a carriage when, half-way here, he ran 
along the platform at a small station and joined me. 
He began to question me. I looked out of the window 
and saw that we were coming to a viaduct over a 
stream between deep cliffs, so I took the little man and 
cracked his neck. Then I flung him over the bridge. 
It was a mistake. He should have left me alone.” ^ 
He described this cold-blooded murder of the un- 
ifortunate Italian with the weary air of one who recites' 
a tedious episode. The lids drooped heavily over his 
^ ^ ^ i 

'T am tired,*' he said.y'That was a good little snake. 
He knew his business. - He could make the best of 
poison,” 

Surely,” said tlie barrister solemnly, ^^you are not 


A JAFANESK REVENGE 


193 


so titterly inhuman that at the very point of death you 
still maintain the attitude of a disappointed avenger? 
What wrong had all these people done yow to demand 
your murderous hate?^^ 

Ooma seemed for a moment to rouse himself from 
lethargy. Once again the black eyes sparkled with 
their menacing gleam. 

‘^It is you/^ he cried, ^^you, the thinker, who ques-* 
tion me. I never gave a thought to you, or I would 
pot now be slowly sinking into death. I might have 
guessed that a higher intelligence was at work than 
that which saw the Ko-Katana with its motto, and 
yet failed to read its story. You ask my motives* 
Can a man explain heredity? Here’^ — ^and he threw 
a packet of papers on the writing-desk — ^^are the 
proofs of my identity. It is not long ago, only one 
hundred and fifty years, since David Hume was 
robbed of his birthright, and what is such a period to 
the old families of England and Japan? There are 
men living in Japan to-day who saw his son in the 
flesh. I am his lawful descendant. I came to Eng^ 
land and resolved to be an Englishman. But I needed 
money. Do you remember our motto, 'A new field 
gives a small crop'? The first Japanese Hume did not 
prosper. He was a good fighter, but he saved no yen. 
So I applied to my family. I came here on the NeW 
fYear's Eve, and Sir Alan Hume-Frazer saw me walk-* 
ing up the avenue. He stepped out through that wim 
clow to meet me. He was surprised at my appearance, 
and thought I was his cousin Robert, whom he had 
not seen for years.’’ 

k' At this remarkable statement the four listener^ 
chiefly concerned looked wonderingly at each other. 
The main incidents of the family feud were repeating 
themselves in a ghostly manner. 

Ooma paid no heed to their amazement. He stag-* 
gered unsteadily to a chair and sank into it limply. It 
was the chair which David Hume occupied when he 
jdept, and dreamed. Not even Winter saw cause fot> 




X JAPANESE REVE.VOe'’ 

suspicion in the act Ooina was dying. His yellow 
.ikin was now green. His lips were white. His whole 
frame was sinking. At this phase he became a Jap- 
anese, and lost all likeness to the Frazers. 

He continued, with an odd cackle — ^ 

“I kept up error. I demanded money as ta’f . 
right, and from his words I gathered that tlie Frazers j 
had teen at their old tricks and had defrauded another: 
relative.” 

Robert started. 

•‘Do you hear?” lie murmured to Brett. ‘“That ac- 
ounts for Alan's strange reception of me the same 

Brett held up a learning hand. Ooma was still 
talking. 

taunted him with thriving on the plunder of his ^ 
r>wn people. That made him furious. He raved about 
rhe world being in league against him. The only rela- 
tive he loved, one who was more than brother, had 
stolen the weninan he w'ished to marry ; his sister was 
a living lie ; his cousin a blackmailer. I laughed. ‘Do 
you disown your sister, then I asked. He took from 
his breast-pocket some papers — ^you will find them 
there, on the table — ^and told me, in great anger, that 
he possessed proof that she was not his sister, i was 
iwler than he, and saw the value of tHs admission. 

I pretended to go away, but hid among the trees and 
saw him walk about the library for nearly an hour. ^ 

I meant to enter the house if an opportunity presented 
itself, and, trusting to my appearance, go to his bed-|^ 
room, if be changed his clothes and went out. But " 
he helped me by placing the papers in the drawer 
which I aftarwards broke open, I saw him meet you’^ 

— ^he feebly pointed to Revert. saw you arrive in 
the carriage,” and he indicated David. ^Then I de- 
termined to wait until the night I went back to 
Stowmarket, where I left a portmanteau at a small 
hotel”— ^Brett knew that Winter stole a look at him, 
0ut he ignored the faet— ^ and changed my clothes. 


A JAPANESE REVENGE 


195 


England, at night, a man in evening dress can enter 
almost any house. When I returned I carried my bag 
iwith me, as I did not know how I might wish to get 
away subsequently. I saw the preparations for the 
hall. They helped me. David Hume’s unexpected, 
jappearance at midnight upset my plans. \Vaiting near 
|lhe gate, I witnessed Alan’s meeting witli a girl in a 
I white dress. Whilst they were taking, I ran up t<j 
4he house and found David asleep in the library. I 
I resolved to act boldly. Even he would not know vdiat 
to do if he suddenly discovered another prazer in the 
room. To force open the drawer I picked up the Jap-^ 
anese sword, and knew it as belonging to my house 
by the device on the handle of the Ko-Katana. The 
tiling inspired me. I obtained the papers, and was 
going out when I met Alan. He had seen what I wa? 
doing. He called me a cur, and the memory of iny 
ancestor’s vengeance rushed on me, so I struck bin^ 
with the knife, and left it resting in his heart as he 
fell. Afterwards it w^as easy. No one knewvme^ 
Those who had seen me thought that I was either 
David or Robert Hume-Frazer. I depended on ths 
pplice and the servants to complete the mystery. They 
did. I saw David meet the same girl in a white dress 
near the lodge, so I sent the postcard which I made 
Jiro write for me. He wrote it badly, which was all 
the better for my purpose. I meant David tO: be 
hanged by the law; then I would marry Margaret. 
That is all. Give me some brandy. I am drermsing 
now., I can see curling shapes. Ah!” 

He gulped down half a tumblerful of raw splril:' 
hastily procured by Brett. Again he attempted tf« 
shake off the torpid state that was slowly mastering 
him. He lifted his eyes feebly to Brett’s face, and liii 
face contorted in a ghastly smile. 

^*Yoii!” he croaked. should have killed you* 
You carried my stick that night in Middle vStreci- 
Why was I not warned? Did you follow the girl frou^ 
tlie hotel? I was a fool. I tried to stop the inquiry 


il96 A JAPANESE REVE1vO£l 

fcy getting rid of David Hume-Frazer. As if he had 
brains enough to get on my track! About that girl! 
Bhe believes in me. She does not know anything of 
tny past. Do not tell her. Try to help her. She is 
toarse — one of the people, as you say here — ^but she 
has courage and is faithful. Help her!’^ v 

i His head drooped. The action of the brandy, whilst 
tnomentariiy stimulating the heart, helped the stupe- 
ifaction of the brain. It was a question of a minute, 
perhaps two. 

’‘AVhy did you come here today?’’ asked Bretf 
quickly. 

^‘To see Margaret. She would give me money. X 
.was going away. That man — I threw from the train 
•—was her husband? He was not — a proper mate— 
Jor a Frazer — or a Hume. We are — an old race— of 
isoldiers. We know — how to die. Four of us — fell 
hghting — in Japan. I am dying! What a pity!” 

His head sank lower. His breath grew faint. His 
iVoice died away in unintelligible words. . After a brief 
silence he spoke again. 

I The words he used were Japanese. In his weakened 
jconsciousness all he could recollect was the language 
he learned from his Japanese mother — the mother he 
(despised when he became a man and knew his history. 

Winter and Brett were now holding him. The 
Others drew apart. They afterwards confessed that 
the death of this murderer, this tiger-cub of their race/ 
affected them greatly. « Hie was fearless to the end. 
The way in which he quitted life became him more 
than the manner in which he lived. ’ 

There was a bustle without, and the local doctor en- 
tered. He looked wise, profound, even ventured on a 
sceptical remark when the barrister explained that 
Ooma had injected snake-poison into his arm. But he 
lifted the eyelids of the figure in the chair and glanced 
jat the pupils. 

Whatever the cause of death liiay be, hie is un- 
idoubtedlv dead!” was his verdict^ 


A JAPANESE REVENGES 




chapter XXXI. 

THE LAST NOTE IN BRETTS DIARr. 

Winter and Holden were invaluable during the try*, 
ing hours that followed. Acting in conjunction witfi 
the local police they caused a search to be made fot« 
Capella’s body. It was found easily enough. Only 
once did the line cross such a place as that described 
by Ooma, and a bruised and battered corpse was taken 
out of the boulder-strewn stream beneath the viaduch 

Robert had telegraphed Mrs. Capella as follows! 

"‘Ooma dead ; Capella reported seriously ill. Remaiq 
|n Whitby. I will join you to-morrow evening.’^ 

■Soon there came excited messages from both Mar-, 
garet and Helen demanding more details, whereupon 
Brett, who knew that suspense was m6re unbearable! 
than full knowledge, sent a fairly complete accoimfi 
af occurrences. 

During the next few days there was the usual com- 
motion in the Press that follows the opening up of 
the secret records of a great and mysterious crime. 

It came as a tremendous surprise to David Hume* 
Frazer to learn how many people were convinced of( 
his innocence ^*all the time.” Being the central figure! 
in the affair, he was compelled to remain at Beech- j 
croft until Capella and Ooma were interred, and the 
coroner^s jury, at a deferred inquest, had recorded 
their verdict that the wretched Japanese descendanf 
of the Scottish Jacobite was not only doubly a mur- | 
‘dcrer, but guilty of the heinous crime of felo de M ■ 
I iBrett, in the interim, saw to the despatch of th^ 


A ;APAN£3^EEVENGB 

Italian witnesses back to Naples. These good people 
i!5d not know why they had been brought to England, 
but they returned to their sunny land fully persuaded 
that the English were both very rich and very foolish. 

Winter, in accordance with Brett's pr(xnise, secured 
1 fresh holiday towards the close of August, and had 
the supreme joy of shooting over a well-stocked Scotch 
moor, ' 

At last, one day in September, Brett was sum- 
moned to Whitby to assist at a family conclave, ^ 
He found that Margaret was firm in her resolve 
never again to live at Beechcroft. She and Robert in- 
tended to get married early in the New Year and sail 
forthwith for the Argentine, where, with the help of 
Ins wife's money, Robert Hume-Frazer could develop 
Ins magnificent estate, 

Beechcroft would pass into the possession of David, 
^nd Helen and he, who were to be married in October, 
would settle down in the house after their honeymoon. 

But on one point they were all very emphatic. That 
ili-fated Hbi'ary window should pass into the limbo of 
things that have been. Already builders were con- 
i'erting the library into an entrance hall, and the main 
door would occupy its natural place in the front of 
the house. 

Let Its hope that the return of the young couple 
after their marriage marked a new era for aii abode 
lutherto singled out for tragedy. Their start was aus- 
picious enough, for true love, in their case, nrither 
ran smoothly nor yielded to the pressure of teirible 
events. " . , , ! 

Mr. and Mrs. Jiro went to Japan. With theUi they 
'^ook the girl, Rose Dew^ and the last hepd of them 
was that the trio were rumiin^ a boarding-house in 
Yeddo, where Mrs. Jiro advertised the excellence of 
: he food she supplied, and Miss Dew sternly repressed 
any attempt on the part of lodgers to obtain credit 
The fast entry in Brett’s note-book, under the head'^ 
fng of tht ^^Stowmarket Mystery/’ is dated six 


A T^^PANESE REVENGS I'A? 

lifter tlie dcpartufe of Mr. and Mf5. Robert Hume- 
I'razer for the Argentine. It reads; — 

Today is the anniversary of David Hume's first 
^isit to my chambers. This morning I discovered m 
a corner, dusty and forlorn, Ooma’s walking-stick. 1 1 : 
Reminded me of a snake that was hibernating, so I 
igave it to Smith, and told him to light the kitcheti 
^re with it. Then I telegraphed to old Sir Davi 1 
Tlume-Frazer, saying that I gladly accepted bis invi-^ 
tation for the 12th. His son, it seems, cannot 
'North, as he does not wish to leave his wife during' 
the next couple of months. I suppe^e I shall be at 
god- father at an early dated* 

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THE HART SERIES 


iLatEffa Jean Libbey Miss Caroline Hart Mrs. E. Burke Collins Mrs. Alex. McVeigh 

Cbadotte M. Braeme Barbara Howard Lucy Randall Comfort Mary E. Bryan Marie C 
Was there ever a galaxy of names representing such authors offered to the public before? 
Masters all of writing stories that arouse the emotions, in sentiment, passion and lo/e, their books excel ait-s 

have ever been written, 

NOW READY 


1 — Kidnapped at the Altar, Laura Jean Libbey, 

‘h — Gladiola’s Two Lovers, Laura Jean Libbey. 

3 — Lil, the Dancing Girl, Caroline Hart. 

5 — ^The Woman Wh© Came Between, Caroline Hart. 

6 — Aleta’s terrible Secret, Laura Jean Libbey. 

7 — For Love or Honor, Caroline Hart. 

^ — The Romance of Enola*, Laura Jean Libbey, 
fi~A Handsome Engineer’s Flirtation, Laura J. Libbey 

iO— A Little Princess, Caroline Hart. 
ijl—Was She Sweetheart or Wife, Laura Jean Libbey, 
«2"Nameless Bess, Caroline Hart. 

13— Della’s Handsome Lover, Laura Jean Libbey 

114 — -That Awful Scar, Caroline Hart. 

115- — Flora Garland’s Courtship, Laura Jean Libbey, 

16 — Love’s Rugged Path, Caroline Hart. 

if — My Sweetheart Idabell, Laura Tean Libbev 

tS — Married at Sight, Caroline Harl 

li 9— -Pretty Madcap Dorothy, Laurc. , Libbey 

10— Her Right to Love, Caroline Hart. 

11— ^The Loan of a Lover, Laura Jean Libbe"?' 

12— The Game of Love, Caroline Hart. 

A Fatal Elopement, Laura jean Libbef , 

14— Vendetta, Marie Corelli. 

25— =The Girl He Forsook, Laura Jean Libb&yo 
Id— Redeemed by Love, Caroline Hart, 

18— A Wasted Love, Caroline Hart. 

19— A Dangerous Flirtation, Laura Jean Libbey 
10 — -A Haunted Life, Caroline Hart. 

§1— Garnetta, the Silver King’s Daughter, L, J, Libbey, 
|2— A Romance of Two Worlds, Marie Corelli 
Her Ransom, Charles Garvice. 

16— A Hidden Terror, Caroline Hart. 

§7— Flora Temple, Laura Jean Libbey. 

$8— Claribel’s Love Story, Charlotte M. Braeme 
^9— Pretty Rose Hall, Laura Jean Libbey. 

.]{ji — The M> stery of Suicide Place, Mrs. Alex, Miller, 
«U— Cora, the Pet of the Regiment, Laura Jean Libbey, 
?i2 — The Vengeance of Love, Caroline Hart. 
iB — Jolly Sally Pendleton, Laura Jean Libbey. 

14— A Bitter Reckoning, Mrs. E. Burke Collins. 

45— Kathleen’s Diamonds, Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller, 
'16— Angela’s Lover, Caroline Hart. 

47— Lancaster’s Choice, Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller, 

48— Madness of Love, Caroline Hart. 

49— little Sweetheart, Mrs. Alex. Mc\Vigh Miller, 
^0— A Working Girl’s Honor, Caroline Hart. 

The Mystery of Colde Fell, Charlotte M Braeme, 
Th® Rawg? •^iiesses, Caroline Hart. 

}3— LIttI® Nobody, Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller, 

^■4— Her Hnsband’e Ghost, Mary E. Bryan, 
ft. —Sold for Gold, Mrs, E. Burke Collin?* 

>c— Her Husband’® Secret, Lucy Ha|idai 
Pasiionate Love, Barabara Howard 
>8— From Want to Wealth, Caroline Hart, 

59 — "Loved You Better Than Y ou Knew, Mrsc A, Miller, 
^0— Irene’s Vow, Charlotte M. Braeme. 

T — -She Loved Not Wisely, Caroline Hart. 

52 — Molly’s Treachery, Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller, 
p — ’Was It Wrong? Barbara Howard. 

M — ^The Midnight Marriage, Mrs. Sumner Hayden, 

55 — Ailsa, W^ppa Gilman, 

Her Dark Inheritance, Mrs. E. Burke Collins, 


I 


7— Viola’s Vanitjs Mrs, Alex, McVeigh Miller. 

Th® Ghost oil the Hurricane Hills, Mary E, Bryan, 

I Blast Series book® are for sale everywhere, or they will be sent by mail, postage paid, f r 30 
by the publisher^ 4 copies for $1,00, Postage stamps taken the same as money. 


(59 — =A Woman Wronged, Caroline Hart. 

70^ — Was She His Lawful Wife? Barbara Hbw • 

71— Val, the Tomboy, Wenona Gilman. 

72— The Richmond Secret, Mrs. E. Burke Co 

73 — Edna’s Vow, Charlotte M. Stanley, 

74 — Heart’s of Fire, Caroline Hart. 

75 — St. Elmo, Augusta J. Evans. 

76 — Nobody’s Wife, Caroline Hart. 

77 — Ishmael, Mrs.* E. D. E. N. Southworth. 

78 — Self-Raised, Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworti 

79 — Pretty Little Rosebud, Barbara Howard, 

80 — Inez, Augusta J. Evans. 

81 — ^The Girl Wife, Mrs. Sumner Hayden. 

82 — Dora Thorne, Charlotte M. Braeme. 

83— Followed by Fate, Lucy Randall Comfort. 

84 — India, or the Pearl of Pearl River, Souihno 

85 — Mad Kingsley’s Heir, Mrs. E. Burke CoKiDi 

86 — ^The Missing Bride, Mrs. E. D. E.N.Sontiivt 

87 — Wicked Sir Dare, Charles Garvice. i 
8S — Dainiie’s Cruel Rivals, Mrs. Alex. McV. Mif'' 

89 — LiUian’s Vow, Caroline Hart. ‘ 

90 — Miss Estcourt, Charles Gorvice, 

91 — Beulah, Augusta J. Evans. 

92 — Daphane’s Fate, Mrs. E. Burke CoUhm- 

93 — Wormwood, Marie Corelli. 

94 — Nellie, Charles Garvice. 

95 — His Legal Wife, Mary E. Bryan, 

96 — Macaria, Augusta J- Evans. 

97 — Lost and Found, Charlotte M. Stanley. 

98 — ^The Curse of Clifton, Mrs. Southworth. I'' 

99 — That Strange Girl, Charles Garvice. 

100 — ^The Lovers at Storm Castle, Mrs. M. A. Cq! 

101 — Margerie’s Mistake, Lucy Randall Comfoi^ 

102 — ^The Curse of Pocahontas, Wenona Gilman., 

103 — My Love Kitty, Charles G.^rvice. 

104 — His Fairy Queen, Elizabeth Stiles 

105 — From Worse than Death, Caroline Hart. 

106 — Audrey Fane’s Love, Mrs. F3. Burke Colliif 

107 — ^Thorns and Orange Blossoms, Charlotte i’; 

108 — Ethel Dreeme, Frank Corey. 

109 — ^Three Girls, Mary E. Bryan. 

110 — A Strange Marriage, Caroline Hart. 

111 — Violet, Charles Garvice. 

112 — The Ghost of the Power, Mrs. Sumner I -.vi 

113 — Baptised with a Curse, Edith Stewart Dr 

114 — A Tragic Biundei , Mrs. H. Lovett Came, oj 

115 — The Secret of Her Life, Edward Jenkins., 

116 — My Guardian, Ada Cambridge. 

117 — A Last I ove, Georges Ohnet. 

1 18 — ^lis Angel, Henry Kerman. 

19 — ^Pretty Miss B 'llew, Theo. Gift. i 

20— Blind Love, Wilkie Collins. * 

21 — A Life’s Mistake, ATrs. H. Lovett Canierait 

122 — Won By Waiting, Edna LyalL 

123 — Passions Slave, King- 

124 — Under Currents, Duchuss, 

125 — False Vow, Braeme. 

126 — ^I'he Belle of Lynne, Braeme, 

127 — Lord Lynne’s Choice, Braeme, 

128 — Blossom and Fruit, Braeme. 

129 — Weaker Than a Woman, Braeme. 

130 — ^Tempest and Sunshine, Mary J. Holmes^i 

131 — Lady Muriel’s Secret, Braeme, 

132 — A Mad Love, Braeme, 

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